The Caboolture River Road (CRR) upgrade was delivered in collaboration with and on behalf of the City of Moreton Bay (CMB). The project plays a key role in improving traffic capacity, road safety and active transport connections in the growing Caboolture and Morayfield corridor.
Key features of the Caboolture River Road upgrade included:
- Widening Caboolture River Road between Grant Road and Morayfield Road to provide two traffic lanes in each direction, with a central median.
- Installing additional traffic turning lanes at key intersections.
- Installing new traffic signals at the intersection of Amy Street and Kenneth Street.
- Upgrading existing traffic signals at Grant Road and Morayfield Road.
- Changing access at Ben Street and Lorebury Drive to left‑in/left‑out only.
- Installing new cycling and pedestrian paths on both sides of the road.
Engineering support and delivery for road upgrade
Marvel Engineers was engaged by CMB to deliver the Engineering Support role for the road upgrade project. CMB’s Integrated Transport Planning and Design (ITPD) team undertook the geometry and drainage design, with support from Marvel across the following disciplines:
- Pavement design.
- Public utility plant (PUP) coordination and design.
- Road lighting and traffic signal design.
- Landscape design.
- Constructability advice.
- Bill of quantities (BoQ) and cost estimates for the above items.
Marvel was engaged as interface managers, and as design and drafting leads, coordinating the design phase across all disciplines.
Streamlining processes and improving collaboration
The embedded delivery model was a key differentiator for this project, with the client working directly within the project team. This approach required regular, hands‑on technical collaboration between CMB’s ITPD team and Marvel. This was a new way of working for us.
Our role was focussed on supporting CMB to deliver a coordinated, error‑free design, while enabling meaningful knowledge sharing between teams on this important road upgrade.
To strengthen coordination and collaboration, the Marvel team implemented the following initiatives.
Common Data Environment using 12d Synergy
We established 12d Synergy as the project’s Common Data Environment (CDE). This enabled both CMB and Marvel to complete all project work within a shared system. It enhanced transparency and allowed efficient sharing of data, files and xrefs.
Early collaboration through digital delivery planning
Marvel developed a Digital Delivery Plan (DDP) outlining how information would be managed across the project. The DDP defined roles and responsibilities, project controls, and expectations around design processes and quality.
Marvel held an internal project kick‑off meeting with subconsultants to align the team on the DDP and reinforce a ‘one team’ mentality.
Weekly coordination using the Last Planner System
A weekly coordination meeting was established for all discipline leads, including the client, based on the principles of the Last Planner System (LPS). This process meant all leads knew expectations for the coming fortnight and reported on their progress from the previous week. It also provided a forum where leads could highlight risks or note if any of their deliverables may require input from others to resolve. This process ensured accountability across organisations.
Federated model for design coordination
Marvel created and maintained a federated model for issue at each project milestone. This improved coordination and enabled early clash detection throughout the design phase.
Co‑location to support rapid decision‑making
Marvel’s integration manager, Georgia O’Connor, spent every Wednesday working from CMB’s Petrie office following the 50 per cent preliminary design milestone . This co‑location enabled rapid resolution of queries and helped further strengthen working relationships between teams.
Embedded delivery model and project outcomes
The CRR upgrade is a strong example of a truly embedded delivery model. The project operated as a single, integrated team, supported by shared systems, shared visibility and shared accountability. This approach removed the traditional client–consultant divide and supported better outcomes for the project.
What made this solution unique was the true embedded delivery model. This project didn’t require just close collaboration, but a single, integrated project team operating with shared systems, shared visibility and shared accountability.
The approach taken on the CRR project reduced risk, accelerated decision‑making and improved design quality. However, the key legacy benefit of the project was the strong trust and relationships built between the Marvel team and City of Moreton Bay.
Marvel Engineers is available to help you on your next project. Reach out to find out more.