Graduates 2001

Barry Brunton

"I worked as a project engineer on road construction jobs with Roadcon P/L. First job was a 25 km reconstruction of the western highway, at Nhill (approximate value A$15 million). I was then appointed to my own little job in Kaniva (approximate value A$1.5 million), which was a reconstruction of the main street in Kaniva, as well as the railway overpass. Both of these jobs included flexible pavement construction, asphalt, earthworks, drainage, placement of geotextiles, etc.

"I then moved on to a job on the great ocean road between Aireys Inlet and Lorne, possibly the best job I have been on yet. It was 17km of shoulder reconstruction both sides working around cliff faces, shear drops, beaches, etc. I was basically project manager of the job (approximate value A$1.9 million), the job was finished well before time, and we had a fantastic relationship with the client.

"From there I moved onto a roundabout at Pearcedale (A$0.5 million value). Very tricky, always working under traffic, massive service utility relocation, small confined site presented its own little problems. However I moved to Ireland before the end of the job.

"I had an interview with Arup Consulting Engineers in Dublin and got a job working on site as a Resident engineer working on the largest bridge construction in Ireland. We were building a toll bridge on the M50, the major ring road around Dublin city over the Liffey river. The toll plaza takes approximately 70,000 vehicles per day. The bridge is a 5 span bridge, 400 metre in length, with pier heights varying between 35 to 45 metre. It is a concrete cantilever box girder construction deck, the deck itself has a height of 5 metre! It is the longest and highest bridge in Ireland.

"After reading the above I myself am impressed with the variety and nature of the jobs I have been and am working on.