Bridge Construction over River: Method, Safety, and Planning Report

This project report delves into various aspects of bridge construction engineering, focusing on the development of a bridge across a river. It explores sustainable bridge design and technology, considering commercial, financial, and economic factors. The report addresses the need for new river crossings in East London and Kent, driven by increased traffic and population. It covers the selection of appropriate construction methods, including cast-in-situ and balanced cantilever methods, with a detailed analysis of the balanced cantilever method for the "Gallons Bridge." The report outlines health and safety obligations, emphasizing the importance of personal protective equipment and hazard awareness. It also includes a project plan with a Gantt chart, discusses low-carbon planning for cost-effective bridge design, and concludes with references. The report highlights the importance of innovative planning, efficient resource utilization, and adherence to safety regulations throughout the bridge construction process.

1
Construction of bridge over river
Student Name
University
Table of Contents

2
Construction of bridge over river....................................................................................................1
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Selection of construction method for sustainable bridge construction:...........................................3
Health and safety obligation:...........................................................................................................9
Program and activity outline for bridge construction project (Gantt chart):.................................12
Evaluation of low carbon planning for cost effective bridge design and development:...............15
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................17
References:....................................................................................................................................19
Introduction:

3
The project report is discussed about the different aspects of construction engineering in order to
develop bridge across the river. In this project, there are discussion for sustainable bridge design
and technology uses by considering commercial, finance and economical aspects. As per given
case, due to excessive amount of traffic flow and population increases day by day, the state
government will planning for bridge construction of four new river crossings site have been
proposed in East London and kent, from the Themes barrier to Dartford, to unlock as “wave of
regeneration.
In order to construction and prepare bridge design, the employers hiring professional structural
engineering team for designing bridge construction by considering sustainable approach. The
design engineer and structural engineering team will plan for construction by considering
specific aspect such as “the bridge design should integrated with existing infrastructure and
suitable for local community”. The project management team should consider commercial,
planning, transportation, legal, quality, procurement and financial strategy while designing and
planning phase of bridge construction. The design and project planning should consider
innovative money plan by considering maximum utilization of manpower, material and
resources, and minimum loss. The project planning may consider health, safety and welfare for
risk free operation Alkass, S. (2008).
Objectives:
 To discuss about the selection of suitable construction method by considering sustainable
design and buildabiilty for river crossing.
 To discuss about the health and safety obligation for construction important work.
 Provide project planning from starting to ends with bridge construction activity (Gantt
chart).
 Discuss about the critical activity and necessary resource for smooth operations.
 To discuss for low carbon planning will helps to merge energy efficiency and cost
effective renewable energy source for new development.
Selection of construction method for sustainable bridge construction:

4
In general, there are seven methods uses for bridge construction such as cast-in situ method,
balance cantilever method, pre-cast method, span by span casting method, incremental launch
method, cable-stayed method, arch method. The selection of method depends on various factors
such as scale of bridge, obstacles to be crossed, regularity of the span lengths, horizontal and
vertical profile, nature of the soil, climate, cost of material, budget, and site and time duration for
the specific production Riley, D. et.al.(2010). Therefore, construction method selection for bridge
construction would be choosing according to suitable factors. The following are briefly
demonstrate the suitability of bridge as per given scenario.
a. Cast in situ method :
This is flexible method for bridge development where the unusual geometric shape of bridge can
construct. This method is suitable for heavy traffic, high transportation and unpredictable volume
of traffic.
b. Balanced cantilever method :
In this method, the construction bridge spans around 50 to 250m. The bridge either precast or
cast in place. This may be best selection for those bridge which length of span irregular and cable
stayed bridges needs to construct Fu, B. (2017).
c. Precast method :
The bridge constructed with the help of precast concrete elements. The elements are pre-cast
beams, deck and decks segments.
d. span by span casting method :
This method is suitable with cantilever construction method but various advance technique for
this method. This method is most economical method for bridge construction.
As discussed above, there are mainly four bridge construction methods are available. But, as
considering actual situation and planning for “Gallons Bridge” construction. The bridge is
suitable for 50 to 250m length of span where two column needs to construct. The fundamental

5
method of bridge construction based on balanced cantilever construction method which attached
to the segments in the alternative arrangement of the opposite end in a cantilever support through
piers. Additionally, this method is capable to construct irregular span lengths, congested project
sites, water terrain, rail crossing while construction Raied, A. et.al.(2017).
As Gallon bridge require long span, irregular shape of road and fluctuate traffic, this bridge is
highly suitable for the developing cable style bridges. The cable style bridge can reduce overall
weight, mass, pressure and force transfer to bridge column and reduce vibration occur due to
fluctuate traffic throughout the bridge. The result may not creating resonance and ensures bridge
life span as per the construction material required. Due to cable support, there is no additional
or auxiliary supports are required and the cable stayed bridge is highly economical, sustainable
and practical possible in area of bridge construction.
Procedure for construction of cantilever cast-in-situ bridge construction method for
“Gallon bridge” construction:
As shown in following figure, the bridge construction of the lower infrastructure has been
provided. The bridge construction can be started from the nearest area of ground pier. The pier
require special framework that needs to position and cast in situ pier segment has been started.
The entire pier segment is then used as the erection platform to support the form traveler for the
cast in place segments.

6
Figure: bridge construction initiate by the lower infrastructure of bridge.
As shown in above figure, the bridge pier produce by the rectangle section and it was remaining
equally throughout the segment. The cross section of pier may decide and agree by the structural
engineer. The project manager and structural engineer may prepare drawing manually; perform
static and dynamic analysis through analytical and software method. From that result, the pier
cross section area will be decided Abu Dabous, S. et.al. (2018). Usually, the circular or square
cross section area selected for long bridge construction. The rectangular, circular or square
section change the area from the top section of the bridge to the bottom layer of the bridge. Then
after, the soffit shuttering, shuttering for the web section and deck shuttering which is fixed at the
both side of the pier as provided in following figure.

7
Figure: shuttering soffit, web and decks
The construction material has been provided in the both sides of the pier as shown in following
figures. The following figure demonstrates the concrete placement for rigid, high strength
construction developed.
Fig.7: concrete placement
Fig.8: Concrete placement

8
The cast in situ segments approximate range around 15 to 20 m by considering formwork which
moves in the tandem that moves with each segment. The segment developed continuous until
the connection of the mid-span which is reached where the balanced connection is closed as
shown in following figure. The construction of the closer section of the bridge is provided in
following figure.
Construction sequence of the balancing cantilever method for “Gallon Bridge” construction :
a. Foundations and pier shaft with the permanent piers in the main unit which needs to
construct Riley, D. et.al.(2010).
b. As the foundation and piers are built, the next processes are used an erection platform
for the precast segments.
c. Assembly of frame structure and installation of lifting frame.
d. Installation of the first foundation pair of the precast segments.
e. Development, installation and construction of wet joints
f. Curing procedure for the wet joints.

9
g. Installation of the next pair of the precast segments. After the construction and
arrangement of the cure joints. The entire procedure needs to expand and continues till
the ends of construction process.
h. Extraction and removal of the lifting frame.
Health and safety obligation:
As considering real life scenario and given case studies, the construction project and procedure
highly engage with risk, health and safety issues. The project manager, employers, supervisors
and employees needs to take care about the health and safety obligations. The current problem
may be hired and allocate to government organization or public sector therefore, the government
and public organization should take steps for safety and health duty.
The following sections are provide the basic and useful application considering OSHA regulation
for different hazardous. Still, the project manager should consider the standard for safety and
health precaution. Additionally, the project manager should consider the regulation mentioned
in OSHA, publication by the other authorities, state and local governments, national fire
protection association and trade associations needs to consult which provide the more
comprehensive and actual information about the health and safety work practices for the
construction or special hazardous.
By considering actual case of bridge construction, there are numbers of workers, employers and
engineers are engage with the project. it is obvious that human body parts are engage with the
construction procedure, therefore, the workers , employers needs to take care and use personal
protective equipment while working.
The workers needs to take care about the hand while working therefore they must use lather hand
gloves while working. In general, the heavy equipment, materials are laid over the floor of
construction site, therefore the worker must wear safety shoes. Apart from this, they need to
wear helmet, goggles and noise protective devices in order to protect organ from permanent
damage. The instrument uses for safety purpose must be standards. For construction purpose,
there should be special dress code for workers and engineer while worker. The cloth must be

10
design according to activity of construction. Therefore, it should be light weight, free and
comfort to wear. The worker must wear ultraviolet and x-ray protection goggles while engaging
with welding activity. The worker must use ear piece while working for drilling, hammering and
noise creating activity.
At working site, there must be sign of hazardous or potential element which invite hazardous
while working. The employers should take seriously and develop action plan in order to
maintain safety at work place. They needs to stick poster, provide significant alert signal and
sign while work at construction site.
The bridge construction procedure is highly connected with activity which is working with
specific height. According to research and survey provide significant evidence and result about
the fall accident while working at construction site. Therefore, the bridge construction project
planning ensure the fall protection safety equipment and special budget provided for safety
device and equipments Chow, Y. (2009). The worker who works at certain height needs to use
stair and ladder which must be design according to standard health and safety procedure. in case
worker works at above the ladder height they needs to use harness which able to carry weight of
worker and provide safety while working. Apart from that, the project manager allows to tie net
which make and provide safety environment for that worker who are work at certain height. The
wire net should be placed below that area where the workers are work and construction may go
on.
Use standard hand and power tool to avoid unnecessary noise, vibration and provide accurate
operation while working at construction site. Avoid to use broken, defective, mushroomed tools
and burned tools. the workers should report to department to change that tools. the workers may
not allows to use random tools and element in order to perform any operation. the worker must
use suitable tool with wearing safety instrument while working. The proper tools and suitable
equipment may reduce human effort and provide precise operation, the worker may feel lower
fatigue through operation De Neufville, R. (2008). Take extra care while using extra sharp tool
and place at suitable location after construction activity has been completed.

11
In order to make healthy and safe environment, the employers, project contractor and project
manager should hire skilled, experience safety engineer who can take charge and ensure safety
and health maintenance at construction site. There is special duty of safety engineer in order to
reduce hazardous at work place and make safe environment at work place. The safety engineer
must provide safety training to each employers and worker who are engange with the
construction activity. There must be special activity arrangement in order to make aware about
the important of safety at workplace Fu, B. (2017). the safety engineer ensure that the worker
must wear safety equipment while working and ensure that they must follow standard
methodology of safety procedure.
The safety engineer need to place audit and prepare report for safety issue, hazardous and
accident occur at work place and provide necessary action plan in order to avoid hazardous and
safety issue occur in future.
For health concern, the management, engineer and supervisor need to take step in order to
maintain healthy working environment. It is obvious that the construction work are highly
strength based and needs more human effort compare to other engineering work. Therefore, the
work and duty allocation to the worker as per skills, knowledge and area of expertise. The
employers must take care about the government rules for health and safety issues. The employer
should assign fixed duty for eight to ten hours as per government norms and specification. the
employer may not force or not assign more work above the capacity and endurance strength. For
overtime work, the worker must applicable for additional wage and it must be take from his or
her convince Liu, J. (2012). The supervisor or engineer must not assign more work, in case, this
scenario occurs at work place, the worker should take action and management should take
necessary steps in order to avoid fatigue and high endurance work.
Due to continuous heavy work and high strength work, the worker feels fatigue and there may be
less concentration for next duty. They might not perform accurate work due to fatigue and
physical endurance Watanabe, E. et.al.(2015).
In order to maintain health, the worker should wear mask in order to protect from dust, debris
particles. Due to dust and debris particles, the worker, supervisor and engineer may invite
allergy which may affect the health and make serious issue for human body.

12
The worker should use standard and new equipment which may create less noise and vibration.
Due to vibration and noise, the human organ may feel tire and weaken due to vibration. Due to
continuous noise, it is invite ear issue for long term working at construction site Horváth, A.
(2011).
The construction material such as sand, cement, concrete and silica highly affect to the body
organ while working and enter inside lung when breathed. The small particles and powder may
affect the human body and invite many dieses such as cancer and all. The safety engineer should
take seriously care and ensure that each worker must wear safety mask while working in order to
avoid health issues Huang, L. (2014).
Program and activity outline for bridge construction project (Gantt
chart):
The following are discuss about the critical path method with associate activity in bridge
construction procedure. In this method, the activities are include those activities which are
actually require for bridge construction procedure. The aim of critical path method is to obtain
optimum or most critical procedure of construction. That will helps to manage and planning
entire bridge construction procedure. The management and planning team have freedom to
choose desire activity as the maximum time allowed through critical path method. The following
are demonstrate the critical path method and activities associate with the bridge construction
procedure Castellote, M. et.al.(2019).
Activities Sequencing
Planning for building construction
Sequen
ces Activities
Durati
ons
Sequen
ces Activities
Durati
ons
1
Site
clearance 3 21
Laying of
decks 1
2 Caisson
Excavation
2 22 Positionin
g
framewor
2