Project Overview

Bridge culverts 3109, 3178 and 3179 are situated on a dual carriageway section of the Monaro Highway in Hume, ACT. The highway spans from Victoria to ACT, forming a vital link in the road freight network and serving as a main access route to the Snowy Mountains.

The existing box culvert structures were strengthened using precast panels installed on grout bed strips over the culvert deck, transferring vehicle loading to the vertical wall members. Works were undertaken during lane closures outside of peak weekday traffic periods, restricting the construction window to 69 hours at each location. Crews worked tirelessly on rotation through the day and night, completing construction at each bridge 12 hours ahead of schedule.

Traffic management and crane lifting were particularly complex elements of the project. Restricted work areas and the mass of the precast panels required a large crane to be mobilised on site, and positioned within a fine tolerance to vehicle traffic. The process was managed by computer modelling crane lifting operations and developing a detailed work method statement to direct on site personnel. The works were completed without any safety, environmental or quality non-conformances.

Project Features

• Bridge strengthening to SM1600
• Complex TTM design and management
• Restricted construction timeframe
• Restricted working areas
• Critical staged constructions
• Weekend and nightworks
• Shift working and detailed shift handover management
• FRP precast concrete panel
• Panel configuration and jointing redesign
• High early strength grouting
• Crane lift study
• Crane lifting safety management