Bridges
- Publication no: ABC2025-014-25
- Published: 27 June 2025
- PDF (free) Download
The new Baywater Station, delivered by Evolve Bayswater Alliance in 2024, is one of the key elements of the Metronet portfolio of projects for Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority. The station, now open to the public, is a centrepiece for the Bayswater and broader community, which has also benefitted from new public spaces, more pedestrian-friendly streets, and enhanced bus, intermodal and active transport facilities.
The new rail bridge structures over King William Street and the New Link Road support station platforms and associated building structures for the elevated station. In total there are four new rail bridges, with complex span configurations (individual span lengths of continuous girders vary between 18 m and 40 m, and the total bridge length up to 210 m) governed by the geometry of the two roads below, the architectural layout of the station and the rail alignment. Each bridge superstructure comprises a concrete U-trough section constructed using two precast pretensioned beams connected with an in-situ deck that supports a slab track with integrated derailment kerb. The beams are also post tensioned longitudinally to achieve continuity, which in turn minimised platform vibrations and deflections, and ultimately provided a more robust structural solution.
Architecturally enhanced bridge piers comprise a precast concrete column and post tensioned headstock supported on an in-situ pile cap and bored piles. The column and headstock are individual precast elements connected on site via vertical post tensioned stress bars and additional coupled vertical reinforcement (for improved ductility). Spherical bearings and shock transmission units have been used to articulate bridge for horizontal loads.
This paper presents successfully resolved design and construction challenges related to a highly constrained site, staged construction, dealing with bespoke track/structural interfaces and overview of application of structural design solutions developed for the new Bayswater Station on other projects.