Olive Downs Rail Loop Bridges

Scope

Davbridge Constructions was engaged by Golding Contractors to build two new rail bridges on the Olive Downs Rail Loop near Moranbah. The project involved building a three span bridge with three 25 m spans at chainage 0.72 km and a two span bridge with two 25 m spans at chainage 6.5 km. The foundations comprised cast in place bored piles of 1200 mm and 2100 mm diameter, totalling 139.7 m, plus 68.5 m of rock sockets. The works then covered about 403 m³ of in situ structural concrete in the substructure plus 85 m³ of toe walls, erection of 15 PSC rail girders, each 25 m long, 136.5 m of steel walkways and about 2,974 m² of shotcrete batter protection. The deck units, concrete and survey were supplied by the client, and the rock aprons and causeways were built by others. The project presented challenges such as building two separate bridges several kilometres apart on the one rail loop, and boring large diameter piles of up to 2100 mm, socketed into rock. Located in the Bowen Basin of Central Queensland, near Moranbah, this project demonstrated Davbridge Constructions' ability to deliver rail bridge foundations and structures for the resources sector while maintaining environmental, community and safety standards.