Innovative design and construction technique for the bridge abutments of the temporary construction road along Viaduct 3 of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link

摘要

Bombela Civils Joint Venture (BCJV) approached Kaytech Engineered Fabrics to offer an alternative design for the abutment walls of a temporary road bridge crossing Allandale Road. The temporary bridge runs parallel to Viaduct 3 of the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link (GRRL) route and will carry construction traffic during the construction of the viaduct. Kaytech approached ARQ Consulting Engineers to prepare a design for the abutment walls consisting of a geosynthetic-reinforced backfill, dry-stacked, concrete block retaining wall system. As far as the authors are aware, this is one of the few applications in South Africa of this type of retaining system used as bridge abutments directly carrying the weight of the bridge deck and applied traffic loadings.