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Thread: New Rail Bridge at Penrith
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1st Nov 2019, 09:38 AM #1Golden Member
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New Rail Bridge at Penrith
The new rail bridge for the Main West railway over Castlereagh Rd in Penrith will be a concrete through-arch, replacing the existing steel through-beams.
The new bridge has been erected at right angles to the track alignment and about 75 m from its desired location.
It is currently located on the western side of Castlereagh Rd, directly opposite Jane St.
Note the high end abutments.
This means either elaborate on-ground roll/slideways and jacks, or some big cranes (perhaps on crawlers).
What are the metal-encased piles piles for ?
There are two semi-complete on the east, and vestiges of similar on the west.
Can any of the members reference a similar large formed-up concrete structure being moved over this distance ?
Pre-stressed concrete beam by crane is common, but formed-up structures ?
Work affecting road traffic is scheduled for 1Nov19 to 24Dec19, then a full closure to replace the bridge 25Dec19 to 31Dec19.
I will be away and miss the bridge move stage.
Hope someone is there to get some photos.
Attached are photos as of 31Oct19.
John.Pile NE Compr.JPGFlier Compr.JPGBridge Abutment Compr.JPGBridge Abutment Base Compr.JPGCompleted Bridge Compr.JPGExisting Bridge Compr.JPG
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1st Nov 2019, 10:12 AM #2Senior Member
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I guess if you've got enough hydraulic power and wheels to spread the load you can move a big structure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md24z_gI6aI
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3rd Nov 2019, 11:40 AM #3
Thanks for photos daughter lives at Londonderry avoiding going through thwt way atm. It still amazes me it doesnt look high enough for todays legal height of heavy vehicles 14+ft? It appears much wider now tho thats a bonus.
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6th Nov 2019, 12:14 AM #4New Member
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How wide do you think it is? I can't really tell from pictures.
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8th Nov 2019, 11:44 AM #5Golden Member
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The Darlington bridge move in South Australia. 3000T and way further than 75M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gv_jsdwbE8
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22nd Nov 2019, 10:06 PM #6Diamond Member
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Maybe 20 years ago an ancient steel rail bridge on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line over 4 lane Annerley Rd at South Brisbane was replaced using a similar method. An arched concrete bridge was built parallel to the old bridge and 3 or 4 metres away from it. The old bridge was removed, the new bridge was slid into place, rails were laid, overhead electrics were reinstalled. I was living nearby at the time, it was a fascinating project to watch.
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19th Dec 2019, 04:18 PM #7Golden Member
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Thanks for the links to the various bridge moves.
But note, all the linked moves were with bridges with innate flexibility.
One was individual concrete beams spaced with timber elements, another a long steel box section etc.
I still have not seen a "formed-up concrete structure" moved.
The Penrith bridge is an all-concrete monolith.
It has joints that were boxed and filled with concrete.
Cast concrete joints are always a risk when moved.
I visited the site today, 19Dec19.
Attached are photos depicting progress to date, and revealing the method of move/install.
My interpretation so far:
- spacer beams between abutments to stiffen the whole structure,
- beams full length of bridge on each side,
- beams attached with tension members to the out-rigger legs of the abutments,
- rubber-tyred carriers support the beams (and bridge) for its journey,
- journey includes a decline,
- metal-encased piles support boxed foundations for the bridge abutments.
Not resolved are the hydraulic jacks and just how the 90 degrees rotation will be achieved.
One option would be to pull the bridge into the middle of the road intersection (after demolishing all the lights and median strips), then rotate 90 degrees, then down the decline to the railway.
Also, the foundations going in on the east side are in line with the existing concrete piers.
This will require rapid removal of the existing bridge piers when the steel bridge is removed.
Looking at the activity today, the teams are going to be very busy to get this done to schedule.
John.
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20th Dec 2019, 08:28 AM #8Golden Member
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It’s been fascinating to watch. Initially I thought they were building a bridge to take cars over the line but then a cabby gave me the more logical explanation
I’m fascinated to see how they dolly the bridge down the slope as it’s not exactly flat ground from there down to the site even though the trip is short.
I’ve seen those building moving shows so know it can be done but it would require a level of precision given the slope and ease of cracking the structure they’ve built.
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20th Dec 2019, 08:30 AM #9Golden Member
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23rd Dec 2019, 02:10 PM #10Golden Member
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There is similar precedent, the Boundary Road bridge in Roseville:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh3xGW-Xjo4
This 1200 T bridge was erected adjacent and slid into place.
Following are photos at Penrith, 1000 h on 23Dec19.
Got clarification of several aspects by a Railway engineer.
The bridge is 2-track.
Future duplication is assumed to be a similar bridge adjacent to the south.
The bridge is supported by wire ropes off the beams.
The bridge has a mass of more than 2200 T, with the total lift being closer to 2700 T.
The abutment ties are cables, not beams, to ensure the abutments don't swing out from the as-cast position.
Carriers are arranged in strings of 3, with the middle one lifted off the roadway.
There are 6 strings, 3 at each end of the beams.
The carriers are Ok on matting laid on loose ground.
While I was there, they did a lift of 40 mm.
This was apparently the third lift as they calibrate all the transducers and check equipment loadings.
The end marked "A" (currently the N end) will be placed at the east end of the destination.
Moves:
- into the interesection with clockwise rotation, 25Dec day,
- down the slope a bit, 25Dec night,
- final location, 26Dec.
All the heavy earth moving equipment will make the new roadway during the move.
There have only been a few comparable moves world-wide.
This one will be the first of an as-cast structure of this mass on rubber tyres in Australia.
John
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25th Dec 2019, 10:16 AM #11Golden Member
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Apologies, got the dates wrong !
The road closure is from 10:00 pm tonight, 25Dec19.
So the first move is scheduled for tomorrow morning, 26Dec19.
Went past this morning on an ice acquisition trip.
Perhaps 10 guys on site, most in groups talking with a couple on scaffolding near the cable lifts.
The local flier shows the road closure as only affecting Castlereagh Road, not Jane Street.
I would think that the cramped location means that any rotation will encroach into the intersection, forcing a closure.
Perhaps that is why there will be a short traverse to the start of the grade, to clear the intersection as soon as possible.
The bush fires have cancelled our expected celebrations at Bilpin today, and my movements tomorrow will be planned to try and get an appreciation of the operation, hopefully with some photos.
Let's hope the Railways do another video like the Boundary Street example.
Enjoy the season,
John.
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26th Dec 2019, 09:04 AM #12Golden Member
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Missed the first moves, they occurred from midnight 25Dec.
I was safe in bed sleeping off a good dinner.
Apparently the rotation did affect some of the intersection, but not that much.
The reason for the short move and parking on the grade becomes obvious, it ensure access for equipment without fouling the intersection.
The bridge is suspended level with the carriers parked and silent on the grade, good brakes.
They are not going to use oxygen lances or shears on the old bridge because they don't want it dropping on to the roadway, partly I am sure to avoid possible damage to the new piers on the east side.
The plan is to take out the old piers and lower the bridge to rails on the road and then drag it out of the way.
They may be cutting it in two for the drag.
The final positioning is scheduled for tomorrow sometime, 27Dec.
It will be interesting to see what height clearance they achieve, the old bridge is very low (4.4 m I think).
Helping somewhat may be the new bridge could be thinner under the rails.
John.
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29th Dec 2019, 04:41 PM #13Golden Member
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Got back to the site at 1500 h today, 29Dec19.
The photo shows the bridge in place and work progressing.
It really is impressive.
The bridge mass is closer to 2500 T.
The final move was at about 1800 h on 27Dec19.
The bridge is within 4 mm of the target position, the allowed tolerance was 15 mm, so all the engineers are very pleased.
The road will be re-opened with 4 lanes, it will take a few months to progress to 6 lanes.
The rail level was not changed, but the thinner bridge deck design introduces an additional 1500 mm of roadway clearance (from 4.4 m).
John
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4th Jan 2020, 08:46 AM #14Golden Member
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Returned to Penrith on 3Jan20.
The bridge is operating with trains and cars, albeit with only 4 road lanes and height bars at 4.4 m.
It does look as good as the photos.
This project will become the benchmark for the future in Australia.
I have been assured that there is a website that showed the progressive work, but I have not been able to find it.
Any member having that link is invited to post it here.
Unless something dramatic happens, this will be my last post on this thread.
Note the interesting fabricated steel embankment retaining walls, and the remnants of the lift cables.
John
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4th Jan 2020, 09:19 AM #15Senior Member
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Very interesting project. Thanks John.
Photos are here
Photo Gallery Discovery
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