Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Austroads has published a new guideline documenting advice for the design and construction of large cantilever and gantry structures aligned with national and international best practice.
Ross Guppy, Austroads Transport Infrastructure Program Manager said that over recent years there have been a number of incidents of structural failures of sign and high mast lighting structures in Australia and New Zealand.
“These failures have largely been due to poor design and construction practices. In addition to the obvious unacceptable safety risks and property damage caused by these incidents, failures can add substantial unforeseen operational costs for repairs and modification, create significant traffic delays and impart reputational damage to the governing road authority and other parties involved,” Ross said.
The guideline was informed by an extensive literature review and stakeholder engagement process.
It is designed to be read alongside relevant standards and is intended for use by all stakeholders involved in the delivery of cantilever and gantry structures including state and local road agencies, designers, contractors and fabricators.
The guidance applies to the structural design and construction of cantilever and gantry sign support structures that extend over any portion of the roadway, including the shoulders and median. Generally, the failure of these structures could result in fatalities, injuries, asset damage or significant disruption to road users.
The principles included in this guidance document can generally be applied to similar over-road structures, such as traffic signals and high mast lighting structures. However, these structures do serve different purposes and have therefore been omitted from specific inclusion in this guide.
Strong communication between the various delivery phases promotes good quality outcomes and therefore it is recommended that users review all sections of the document to develop an appreciation for key principles and challenges that are commonly faced.
Download: Design and Construction Guidelines for the Delivery of Large Cantilever and Gantry Structures
Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, 8 June 2021, 1:00 – 2:00pm AEDT led by Claire Jager and Andrew Wong. This webinar will examine gaps in current guidance and standards, examples of good practice, and lessons learned from past failures.
No charge but registration is essential.