TRAFFIKDRAIN | THE LEADING DRAINAGE SOLUTION
07 May 2019
ACO’s TraffikDrain is acknowledged Australia-wide as a leading solution for the control of gutter flow thanks to its efficient, compliant and durable system. Find out more about why TraffikDrain is such a standout.
Image from Sydney Airport
ACO’s TraffikDrain is so well regarded in Australia that it is even acknowledged in Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 5a: Drainage as the leading practical solution to control the width of gutter flow through the drain’s continuous capture inlets.
TraffikDrain combines the benefits of Polycrete® Channels with a choice of iron Hi-Flow, Transverse grates or Heelsafe® Anti-Slip grates. The iron Hi-Flo and Transverse grates provides maximum water intake, which ensures quick and efficient water removal from the road surface. Each grate is designed to minimise ponding and other risks that can affect road users, and is secured with the PowerLok® boltless locking mechanism that enables quick and easy access for maintenance operations.
Designed to be heel-friendly and slip-resistant, the Iron Intercept Heelsafe® Anti-Slip grate is well suited to all pedestrian crossings and other high pedestrian traffic areas. The 8mm slots are purposefully designed to abode to the requirements of the following Australian Standards:
- AS 3996 Clause 3.3.5 | Surface Openings in Pedestrian Areas.
- AS 1428.2 Clause 9(c) | Ground and Floor Surfaces addressing wheelchair and walking cane safety.
- AS 4586 | Independently tested for slip resistance for wet pendulum (P3) and oil-wet platform (R10) surfaces.
ACO’s high capacity Iron Hi-Flo and Iron Transverse grates are designed with large efficient inlets to ensure high water intake, allowing for quick stormwater removal from road surfaces. The features of these grates are their functionality to allow for easy cleaning (with or without grate removal), the ability to be inspected through the top of grate, and for leaves to not block the inlets.
ACO’s TraffikDrain is ideal for projects that require:
- Provision of continuous capture inlets
- Prevention of aquaplaning, property damage, and water splashing on to pedestrians
- Containment of toxins and fuel spills in environmentally sensitive areas.
ACO’s TraffikDrain is most commonly used for:
- Motorways and highways
- Streetscapes with shared zones for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles
- Busways, bus stops and railway interchanges
- Bridge abutments and tunnel portals
- Media strips
- Right-hand turn bays
- Kerbside Gutters
ACO’s TraffikDrain is well-suited to applications where traditional drainage designs, such as kerb inlet pits, are inadequate, such as flat pavements and road surfaces, restricted road shoulders, and limited space due to underground services.
ACO TraffikDrain is unique for the vast variety of features it has on offer, which includes:
‘V’ Profile Channels | Superior to the ‘U’ profiled channels, ‘V’ profile channels promote higher velocities during minor storm events and result in a more hydraulically efficient drain.
Sloped Channel | Metre long lengths provide 40 metres of continuous (0.5 percent) slope that equates to 5mm of built-in fall per metre. Five neutral channel depths are available to extend the run length.
Polymer Concrete | ACO’s first choice material for its durable and lightweight elements. It’s made from a polyester resin binder and reinforced by mineral aggregates and fillers.
Profiled Side Walls | Channel body strength and mechanical keying to the concrete encasement.
Ductile Iron Edge Rail | Integrally cast-in rail provides maximum strength and protection for channel body.
SF Sealant Groove | SF Sealant Groove is cast into both ends of the channel that allows for a bead of flexible sealant to be applied at the channel joints. The sealant ensures contaminated water does not infiltrate and damage environmentally sensitive areas.
ACO’s TraffikDrain grates are purpose-designed to meet all Australian Standard road regulations and requirements, including:
- AS 3996 Access Covers and Grates | All grates are rated to load class D210kN (8 tonnes) and are bicycle wheel compliant in all directions
- AS 1831 Ductile Cast iron | Manufactured from ductile iron Grade 500/7
ACO’s TraffikDrain also contains anti-shunt provisions to prevent dynamic wheel loads causing longitudinal movements and a PowerLok® boltless locking system allowing unobstructed access and regular maintenance. These features ensure that safety is absolutely paramount when using ACO’s TraffikDrain.
To reduce installation time and labour costs, ACO offers installation devices. The device clamps the channels together and braces them to prevent movement. The device also stops the channels from floating during single concrete pour operations.
CASE STUDIES
Airport East Precinct, Sydney NSW
Sydney Airport and Port Botany are two of the most important infrastructure facilities contributing to the NSW and Australian economy, with the surrounding roadways experiencing heavy congestion daily. Freight vehicles transport goods to and from Port Botany and Sydney airport has 150,000 visitors daily with 75 percent travelling there by road. Reducing traffic congestion in and around the area, increasing capacity for future growth, and improving road safety was the aim of the $170 million jointly funded Airport East Precinct upgrade.
To improve the traffic flow around the airport and to Port Botany, one of the road upgrades included the widening of Joyce Drive and General Holmes Drive from two to three lanes in both directions. The designers encountered challenges trying to fit all the infrastructure requirements into the allocated corridor. A continuous inlet capture system was deemed the most cost-effective method as it required minimal excavation in the narrow road corridor and ensured all the surface water runoff would be collected.
ACO’s solution was the TraffikDrain TD300 with Iron Hi-Flo grates. The Technical Services and Design department provided the project designers with hydraulic performance data of the TraffikDrain system and gave advice on the optimal spacing of the pits to ensure the solution was optimised for the project.
The large openings of the Hi-Flo grate ensures runoff is efficiently captured eliminating the hazard of gutter flow to motorists and the anti-shunt lugs ensure grates remain firmly in place and are not dislodged by excessive wheel movements and braking.
Victoria Drive, Perth WA
Perth Stadium, also known as Optus Stadium, is a world-class stadium with a seating capacity of up to 70,000. The multi-purpose stadium hosts Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer and Cricket games as well as musical concerts and other entertainment. The stadium required new road infrastructure to cope with the increased traffic and enable access to areas surrounding the stadium. Victoria Park Drive was specifically built to improve access between Roger Mackay Drive and the Graham Farmer Freeway.
The designers wanted all the surface water runoff to be captured quickly from the four traffic lanes. A continuous capture trench drainage system was deemed the most cost-effective method to ensure all surface runoff was effectively captured to eliminate the gutter flow encroaching into the traffic lane.
ACO provided the solution with the TraffikDrain TD300 with Hi-Flo grates. ACO’s Technical Services Department provided designers with grate and channel hydraulic performance data to ensure the system met the project requirements.
The large openings of the Hi-Flo grate ensure runoff is continuously captured and the PowerLok boltless locking system together with the Anti-shunt lugs ensure grates remain firmly in place and are unable to be dislodged when trafficked by vehicles.
Denham Street Upgrade, Rockhampton QLD
The Federal Government’s Black Spot Programme aims to reduce traffic incidents and the national road toll. The programme targets dangerous locations and installs traffic signals and roundabouts to reduce the risk of accidents. Fifty percent of the funding provided is dedicated to fixing roads in regional Australia. One such project was the installation of a single lane roundabout at the intersection of Denham Street and Kent Street in Rockhampton at a cost of $850,000.00.
The installation of the roundabout required the Denham Street carriageway to be widened and the bus stop location to be moved further up the street. Widening of the carriageway reduced the required space for a traditional pit and pipe drainage system, necessitating an alternative compact drainage system that also needed to be robust, secure and hydraulically efficient.
ACO’s solution was the TraffikDrain TD300 system with Iron Intercept Heelsafe® Anti-slip grates. The TraffikDrain channels fit within the restricted shoulder width and the TraffikDrain continually captures all the surface water, eliminating width of gutter flow.
The PowerLok® boltless locking mechanism provides easy access for maintenance and the anti-shunt lugs ensure heavy vehicles such as buses can brake safely on the grates without dislodging them.
To find out how you can install ACO’s TraffikDrain for your next project, contact ACO via the links below.