Tarlington Road Stairway Renewal

The old stairway at the corner of Beechmont Road and Tarlington Road had reached the end of its design life, and it brought walkers out at the edge of a rural escarpment road. Lower Beechmont residents climb a stair set back into the slope, arriving on their own ground before stepping onto the verge. The FRP mini mesh treads give 1.5 metres clear width, with tested slip resistance.

Setting the stair back meant cutting into the escarpment, and that batter had to be designed and protected against erosion for the same 50 years as the stair. Below ground, a Telstra conduit through the site needed a metre of clearance, limiting excavation near it to 0.6 metres, and the loads spread within a shallow envelope. With no mains power or water on site, Council specified UV protection, fire retardant and grit built into the FRP itself.