When AIL Mining needed to convince a client that a large, heavy haul road arch system could be constructed over an existing twin track rail line and two adjacent access roads without traffic interruption, two compelling factors sealed the deal:
- Our extensive experience designing deep corrugated Buried Metal Bridges for extreme live loads
- Our project history building railway arches under similar live traffic constraints.
Accelerated delivery — plus some bells and whistles
The project specified that the components be delivered and assembled according to a very tight schedule and include imbedded electronic monitoring. We got to work, and less than a month after the contract was awarded, the components were manufactured, test assembled and shipped — ahead of schedule.
The first road tunnel went up in seven days, while the subsequent rail tunnel took 18 days and the second road tunnel only 11 days. Engineered ramping and backfilling of approximately 80,000 m3 (2,825,173 ft3) of earthworks took 38 days. The design incorporated the installation of strain gauges, pressure plates and a data logger to the exterior of the rail tunnel.
There was no rail or road traffic interruption, and the work was completed on time, making for one very satisfied customer.
