MASONRY CULVERT REPLACEMENT NEAR ORANGE

Client: John Holland – Country Regional Network

Project: Replacement of Masonry Culvert with RCB Culvert near Orange NSW

Barnson’s Role: Geotechnical Testing and Consulting

Time frame: Completed September 2016

John Holland Country Regional Network upgraded the existing rail infrastructure to accommodate upgrades to the nearby road and general area drainage. The existing concrete-filled masonry culvert was replaced with a double-cell precast reinforced concrete box (RCB) culvert with associated wing walls, apron slabs, and scour protection. Pre-cast culverts were also placed adjacent to allow for road widening. 

The rail was removed and area boxed out to a depth 0.3m deeper than the culvert base. A further 0.3m of structural fill was placed and compacted before the pre-cast culverts were put in place. The culverts and wings were craned before backfilling the structural zone and capping layers.

Barnson provided on-site geotechnical advice and testing for foundation bearing capacities, material moisture and compaction under the pre-cast culverts, and backfill behind the wing walls in the rail structural zone and capping layers.

Train networks are busy public transport routes and it's important to avoid disruption as much as possible. This project had a short window of 36 hours to be carried out between 6am Saturday morning to 6pm Sunday. In this time the rail had to be in place and operational for the train network to continue. This project required day and night shift personnel with the ability and experience to assist in material analysis and compaction technique recommendations. This was achieved by making available and supplying two personnel with over 8 years’ experience each.

Engaging both day and night shift personnel with the ability and experience to assist in material analysis and compaction technique recommendations was challenging. With the qualified personnel on site, the time frame was achieved and the rail was ready for use by the deadline.