Published Tuesday, 11 November, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Launching gantry helps accelerate second Gateway Bridge
An 800-tonne launching gantry has been installed on the second Gateway Bridge, allowing workers to speed up the installation of massive pre-cast concrete segments on the new bridge’s northern approach.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the gantry was capable of lifting up to eight concrete deck segments each day, faster than the cranes that had been used previously.
“While five bridge spans on the northern bridge approach were constructed using cranes, this 165-metre-long launching gantry will construct the remaining five spans at a much faster rate than a crane would,” Mr Pitt said.
“The gantry sits on the bridge’s piers and consists of two massive steel trusses and two 100-tonne-capacity hoists with a lifting reach of more than 60 metres from the ground to the deck of the new bridge.
“The operator moves the gantry by remote control with a joystick from the adjacent deck.
“The gantry allows the project team to lift 100-tonne bridge deck segments from the ground 50 metres below up to into position to form a new span.
“The use of this gantry means that the bridge decking on the northern side of the river will now be completed early next year.”
Mr Pitt said construction crews had recently completed the southern main river pier, with the northern main pier due for completion in early January.
“These two piers will support the balanced cantilever main span that will cross the Brisbane River,” he said.
“At a total height of 54m, the main piers are a critical component of the new bridge structure, as they are the main load-bearing supports for the 260m main span and the 130m side spans.
“With walls more than 2.5m thick, each pier head alone contains 1920 cubic metres, or 4608 tonnes of concrete, and 300 tonnes of steel for reinforcement and tensioning.”
In addition to the second Gateway Bridge, Queensland Motorways is delivering 12 kilometres of upgrades to the motorway between Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Lytton Road on the southern side and seven kilometres of new motorway north from the bridge to Nudgee Road, including a second access to the Brisbane Airport.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the gantry was capable of lifting up to eight concrete deck segments each day, faster than the cranes that had been used previously.
“While five bridge spans on the northern bridge approach were constructed using cranes, this 165-metre-long launching gantry will construct the remaining five spans at a much faster rate than a crane would,” Mr Pitt said.
“The gantry sits on the bridge’s piers and consists of two massive steel trusses and two 100-tonne-capacity hoists with a lifting reach of more than 60 metres from the ground to the deck of the new bridge.
“The operator moves the gantry by remote control with a joystick from the adjacent deck.
“The gantry allows the project team to lift 100-tonne bridge deck segments from the ground 50 metres below up to into position to form a new span.
“The use of this gantry means that the bridge decking on the northern side of the river will now be completed early next year.”
Mr Pitt said construction crews had recently completed the southern main river pier, with the northern main pier due for completion in early January.
“These two piers will support the balanced cantilever main span that will cross the Brisbane River,” he said.
“At a total height of 54m, the main piers are a critical component of the new bridge structure, as they are the main load-bearing supports for the 260m main span and the 130m side spans.
“With walls more than 2.5m thick, each pier head alone contains 1920 cubic metres, or 4608 tonnes of concrete, and 300 tonnes of steel for reinforcement and tensioning.”
In addition to the second Gateway Bridge, Queensland Motorways is delivering 12 kilometres of upgrades to the motorway between Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Lytton Road on the southern side and seven kilometres of new motorway north from the bridge to Nudgee Road, including a second access to the Brisbane Airport.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819