Next week, the Batemans Bay bridge will undergo routine maintenance work, and motorists may be delayed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Closure of the northbound lane and stop/slow traffic control will be in place while work is carried out between 8pm-4am from Tuesday, September 22 for three nights, weather permitting.
A reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will also be in place.
Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, follow the directions of signs and traffic control and allow up to five minutes additional travel time.
Meanwhile, the bridge replacement project was progressing well with segments being erected to the superstructure.
Work planned for July to the end of September was the continuing segment production at the precast facility, delivery and erection of those segments, surrounding earthworks, retaining walls and preparation for a floating pontoon.
Transport for NSW provided a 13-step guide on how bridge segments were installed, check it out ...
How to install a bridge segment
- Segments are cast at the precast yard. Casting is shaping something - in this case concrete - in a mould. The segments have key-shaped joints that allow them to be connected to each other, like a jigsaw puzzle.
- A sequence is determined to work out in what order segments need to be delivered to site.
- A segment is delivered to site.
- Handrails are installed to allow workers to safely access the segment once it is installed.
- The segment lifting beam is set up. This will allow workers to adjust the way the segment hangs from the crane, making sure it matches with other segments.
- The segment lifting beam picks up the segment.
- The segment is hung in position at the end of the bridge structure near the previous segment. The segment lifting beam adjusts the new segment to ensure it will line up with the previous segment.
- A strong glue is applied to the "face" of the segment and the two segments are joined together.
- Steel bars are then used to temporarily connect the segments to the bridge structure. The steel bars are pulled tight to ensure a strong connection is in place.
- The segment lifting beam is disconnected.
- Once a pair of segments has been erected, one on either side of the structure, steel wires are run through tubes inside segments to form a steel tendon. These tendons provide the permanent connection between all segments of the bridge structure.
- Large jacks are used to tension the steel wires allowing the span of segments to cantilever from each of the piers.
- Once all the spans are installed, more steel wires are threaded through further ducts in each segment - this connects all of the spans together.
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
