South Africa: Paarl bridges widened with precast concrete beams

摘要

A project being headed by UDS Africa to upgrade Berg River Boulevard and Oosbosch Street in Paarl/Western Cape (South Africa) was commissioned by the employer, Drakenstein Municipality, in 2013. The first phase, which included the upgrading of Berg River Boulevard from Lady Grey Street to Optenhorst/Oosbosch Street, was started in 2016 and completed in 2018. The bridges are being widened using precast concrete beams manufactured by Cape Concrete. The bridge-widening project f orms part of upgrading a section of Oosbosch Street between the Berg River Boulevard and Jan van Riebeeck Street. Members of the bridge-widening professional team include the main contractor, Martin and East, AECOM SA, Empa Structures and Mowana Engineers. The original river bridge was constructed with post-tensioned beams, a building technology which was considered for the current project. However, UDS finally approved the contractor's proposal for pre-tensioned precast beams as being the more cost-effective and time-efficient option, and Cape Concrete was commissioned to cast 20 T-beams, 26m a piece.