INNOVATIONS IN ROAD AND BRIDGE STRENGTHENING IN NEW ZEALAND

A recent pavement and bridge strengthening project in New Zealand has rsulted in the establishment of new limits for granular base courses, chip seal surface treatment technology, and rehabilitating old bridges respectively. As part of the construction of a synthetic gasoline refinery at Motonui, on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, 180 prefabricated modules weighting up to 950 tons were transported by road from the Port of New Plymouth to the redinery site. Design engineers from New Zealand's Ministry of Works and Development chose some innovative methods to strengthen the 26 kilometers of state highway and seven bridges in the face of stringent deadlines. The technique for bridge strengthening involved the use of deflected Macalloy bars or external prestressing cables to resist up to twice normal loadings in beams and diaphragms. Two new bridges were required on bypass routes, and five other bridges, up to 49 years old, were economically strengthened by prestressing the main beams. Maximum load dimensions of 26.5 meters high, 39.1 meters long, and 13.4 meters wide were transported on a tiltable trailer pulled by tractor units in series, each haveing 21.5-ton axle laods. For each load, allowable maximum wind speeds were determined, the center of gravity was established by weighing on load cells, and movements were monitored to restrict eccentric loading generated by wind forces and trailer tilt. (Author)

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  • Accession Number: 00395936
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Sep 30 1985 12:00AM