Media Release template


Media Release

25 August 2015

TRANSURBAN ANNOUNCES FIRST INNOVATION GRANT RECIPIENT

Transurban has today announced the first recipient of its Innovation Grants Program, awarding a
$100,000 grant to a team led by Dr Thomas Fiedler from the University of Newcastle to develop a revolutionary material for road safety barriers.
The material being developed is a metallic foam that is strong, light and highly absorbent with the ability to cushion collision impacts.

Dr Fiedler said the compact and absorbent nature of the material differed from existing barrier systems which were designed to buckle when impacted and required large amounts of space.

IMAGE: Dr Fiedler works with the "metallic foam" he will incorporate

into a prototype for a new type of road safety barrier.

"We will use the Transurban grant to modify the material for use in roadside barriers, develop prototypes in our lab and test them with state-of-the-art equipment," Dr Fiedler said.
"We expect the barriers will reduce the impact of crashes; so when placed in critical locations they will noticeably improve safety for road users."
Transurban CEO Scott Charlton said the project exemplified the purpose of the grants program which was designed to support the research and development of ideas that advance road technology, systems and safety.
"At Transurban 'ingenuity' is one of our core values and we constantly look for new ways to improve our road networks and operations," Mr Charlton said.

Classification Transurban Group

Transurban International Limited

ABN 90 121 746 825

Transurban Holdings Limited

ABN 86 098 143 429

Transurban Holding Trust

ABN 30 169 362 255

ARSN 098 807 419 corporate@transurban.com

transurban.com

Level 23

Tower One, Collins Square

727 Collins Street

Melbourne

Vic 3008 Australia

Telephone +613 8656 8900

Facsimile +613 9649 7380

Level 9

1 Chifley Square

Sydney

NSW 2000 Australia

Telephone +612 9254 4900

Facsimile +612 9254 4990

Brisbane Technology Park

7 Brandl Street Eight Mile Plains Queensland 4113

Telephone +617 3323 0100

Facsimile +617 3423 3089


Media Release

"The Innovation Grants Program is a natural extension of our approach and provides a way for us to engage with world-class researchers and organisations to develop ideas that could lead to advancements in our industry.
"We are delighted to be partnering with Dr Fiedler's team and the University of Newcastle to develop a high-performing, low-cost barrier alternative that could produce tangible safety results across road networks."
More information about the program is available on the Transurban website:
transurban.com/innovation_grants
ENDS

Media enquiries Alida Merson, Communications Specialist p. 03 8656 8292 m. 0417 195 389 Classification Transurban Group

Transurban International Limited

ABN 90 121 746 825

Transurban Holdings Limited

ABN 86 098 143 429

Transurban Holding Trust

ABN 30 169 362 255

ARSN 098 807 419 corporate@transurban.com

transurban.com

Level 23

Tower One, Collins Square

727 Collins Street

Melbourne

Vic 3008 Australia

Telephone +613 8656 8900

Facsimile +613 9649 7380

Level 9

1 Chifley Square

Sydney

NSW 2000 Australia

Telephone +612 9254 4900

Facsimile +612 9254 4990

Brisbane Technology Park

7 Brandl Street Eight Mile Plains Queensland 4113

Telephone +617 3323 0100

Facsimile +617 3423 3089

distributed by