Bridges

Bridges located in regional remote areas of Australia have unique constructability challenges. This paper describes the technical solutions adopted in the design of the Ponton Creek Bridge Upgrade, located along a mine site access road circa 150 km north-east of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The existing six-span bridge over Ponton Creek was constructed in 2012 and consists of six spans totalling approximately 66 m. The upgrade of the bridge was required due to significant cracking on the underside of multiple beams. Permanent sagging was evident and severe corrosion staining present at the locations of the large cracks. The design developed comprised the replacement of the whole superstructure and barriers, the repair and upgrade of the substructures and new transition slabs.

Several constraints and challenges were encountered during the development of the design and construction methodology of the bridge upgrade.

Instead of a full bridge replacement, a safe, sustainable and cost-effective alternative was adopted. The environmental impact of the bridge upgrade was minimised by reducing the structural elements to be demolished and replaced. Modular construction also enabled safe installation and minimised the construction program. As a result, the project not only extended the bridge’s lifespan but also improved durability performance through the technical solutions developed during the design phase.