Construction World December 2023

LENTEGEUR OVER-RAIL PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE piled foundations adjacent to the railway tracks.

T his project, south of the R300 in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, entails the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the existing railway line, which links Katrina Harries Road and Rosa Hope Crescent (on the Western side of the tracks) with Portulaca Street and Plumbago Crescent, on the Eastern side. The site was handed over to Civils 2000 on the 25 November 2022 and was due for completion on the 13 November 2023. The structural engineer’s design called for a skew, 11 span reinforced concrete bridge with ramped approaches and staircases on either end. The bridge is founded on micropiles at a depth of 15 m each with 10 piles per foundation, with each deck span supported on elastomeric bearings and completed with precast parapet beams. The deck spans are screeded concrete deck slabs, with the abutments completed with stone-pitched embankment fills and surfaced pathways, platforms for informal traders, with pedestrian lighting at walkways as well as on the bridge. Provision for CCTV cameras were also installed. Civils 2000 offered construction advice which was later implemented, placing 20 mm aggregate wrapped in Bidim geotextile below the column bases to mitigate potential problems relating to the high-water table in the area. In addition, Civils 2000 designed a temporary propping system that was installed to immobilise the precast bridge beams due to excessive wind loads experienced. The propping system was installed and maintained until the down stand bridge deck between the beams was cast and reached sufficient strength. Design of any aspects of the permanent works was outside Civils 2000’s scope of works, however, Civils 2000 was responsible for design of the temporary works, specifically the formwork, scaffolding and lateral support of

This project, which was completed on 13 November 2023, has been executed with very few hitches due in large part to a positive client, a proactive project manager, thorough detailed planning by the site team, and the methodical implementation of strict project management, safety and environmental controls. The bridge will be completed and handed over ahead of schedule. 

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering: Civils 2000 • Client: City of Cape Town Transport Infrastructure Implementation

• Main Contractor: Civils 2000 • Project Manager: FENG JV • Design Engineer: Denith Africa

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22 nd Best Projects Awards 2023