Bridges

When finished in year 2013, the $759M Peninsula Link project will connect the southern end of Melbourne’s Eastlink toll road to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. The Peninsula Link project is being built by Abigroup Contractors under a design and construct contract. It will be State-owned, and will not be tolled. The Project Scope and Requirements document for this project prescribed " Where the bridge length, skew and ground conditions are suitable, consideration must be given to integral abutments which eliminate (the) requirements for bearings and expansion joints".The preference to adopt integral abutment bridges when possible was also stipulated by the Eastlink Project, and is now similarly mandated for all Vicroads projects. Of the 30 bridges on the Peninsula Link project, 11 are being built with integral abutments. This paper describes the standardised form and behaviour of these bridges, and discusses important aspects of the design calculations and material specifications. Special considerations for construction, and maintenance are also indicated.