Next Riverside Expressway closure underway

An overnight preparation lift of a span of Brisbane’s Riverside Expressway will take place next week before the second group of pot bearings are replaced next month.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the expressway work was required to replace 40-year-old pot bearings.

“We replaced the pot bearings on the first span, near Margaret St last year and tests showed some corrosion and the need to replace all the pot bearings,” Mr Emerson said.

“Since the first lift engineers have redesigned the pot bearings to reduce installation time and improved the jacking control system used to raise the deck, to increase reliability.”

The expressway will be closed inbound from 9pm on Friday, May 24 until 9am on Saturday, May 25 between the Margaret St off-ramp and Ann St on-ramp. The Alice St westbound on-ramp and Margaret St southbound off-ramp will also be closed.

“The expressway will be lifted in preparation for bearing replacement works next month,” Mr Emerson said.

“There will be a full closure of the expressway from 28 June to 1 July to complete the bearing replacement on this section of the Riverside Expressway.

“We will make every effort to reduce the impact on motorists and that’s why we’re working around Brisbane’s busy major event schedule.”

The pot bearings are steel bearings bolted to the structure to transfer loads from the deck to the foundations and to allow for movement.

To replace the pot bearings, the decks need to be jacked up about 200mm to allow the old bearings to be unbolted and the new bearings to be fitted.

The existing pot bearings were installed when the Riverside Expressway was built and the new bearings will more effectively resist corrosion and last longer than the original bearings.

For up to date traffic and travel information, visit www.131940.qld.gov.au or call the Transport and Main Roads Traffic Report Line on 131940.

[ENDS] 17 May 2013

Media Contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637