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Media Coverage Printed on 20 May 2012 | 00:50:12 |
Cornubia settlement breaks new ground
The eThekwini Municipality Housing has commenced work on the Cornubia Integrated Human Settlement Development, a development which embraces the New Housing Vision and Policy entitled “Breaking New Ground”. This vision will promote a non-racial, integrated society through the development of sustainable human settlement and quality housing.
The Phase 1 development will see 14,769 houses built over the next eight to ten years. Work on Phase 1A of the pilot project consisting of 487 houses commenced in April 20100 in the form of road-over-rail access bridge required to service the pilot project. Access to the pilot project is located off the old North Coast Road (Main Road 79).
The bridge design is a 26m long x 12m wide structure consisting of a 12m main span and two 7.4m jack spans. The abutment and pier bases are founded on rock in the form of pad foundations. Nine precast reinforced concrete beams 810mm depth x 410mm width consisting of these sections; a main span and two jack spans with twenty seven beams in total, support a 180mm thick concrete desk.
The 27 pre-cast beams were constructed on site. These beams were hoisted into place under a weekend rail line was required for eight hour periods on each day. During this period affected passengers were transported by bus from station either side of the bridge. Once the beams were in places permanent shuttering was placed and the deck was cast while maintaining full rail traffic beneath.
The two road lanes are 3.5m wide with two 1.6m wide sidewalks with pedestrian balustrades. The precast beam design allowed for speedy construction where the beams could be cast on site and placed quickly to reduce construction time and disruption to rails traffic. Close liaison and co-operatin with Transnet was required on the project and major emphasis on safety in terms of working in close proximity to rail traffic and high voltage overhead electrical cables for rail has been required on the project.
Completion of the bridge provides good construction access for the pilot project with completion of the access road providing permanent access to the housing project. Design and implementation was taken by Durban office of Vele VKE Consulting Engineers.
Enquiry No:87
Date Added: 13 Jul 2011 | Author: KZN Industrial & Business News
