CROSSBEAM REPLACEMENT

This paper describes the development of a scheme for replacing a motorway crossbeam support from concept to successful completion, and discusses in detail some of the problems met. The Midland Links Motorway Viaducts carry the M5 and M6 motorways around the suburbs of Birmingham, England. They have over 1200 spans of elevated structures, most of which are simply supported steel and concrete bridge decks, supported by reinforced concrete crossbeams and columns. De-icing salts have seeped onto the crossbeam supports through leaking joints, causing so much corrosion that most of the supports have to be repaired. Some of the crossbeams had to be replaced completely, with minimal disruption to motorway traffic. Temporary supports, with independent foundations, had to support the decks on each side of a crossbeam, to leave access for demolition and reconstruction. The deck structures had to be modfified, to enable them to be jacked up and lifted onto these supports. Special techniques were used to remove the crossbeams and break them up, before replacing them. Dejacking of the deck onto the new crossbeams was also performed under complete motorway possession. Some lessons from the crossbeam replacement project are presented. For the covering abstract see IRRD 873097.

• Corporate Authors:

  Thomas Telford Limited

  London,   United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • CHUBB, M S
  • KENNEDY REID, I L
• Conference:
  • BRIDGE MODIFICATION. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, HELD IN LONDON 23-24 MARCH 1995
• Publication Date: 1995

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 241-54

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Bridge piers; Bridges; Conferences; Construction; Corrosion; Deicing chemicals; Demolition; Freeways; Jacks (Mechanical equipment); Reinforced concrete
• Uncontrolled Terms: Modifications
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 3472: Beam; 3455: Bridge; 3434: Bridge pier; 8525: Conference; 3655: Construction; 5252: Corrosion; 2598: Deicing; 3636: Demolition; 3831: Jack; 9048: Modification; 2752: Motorway; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00712429
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 24 1995 12:00AM