RAWDON ISLAND BRIDGE RESTORATION
Constructed in 1961, the bridge over the Hastings River on Rawdon Island is a 164m long, eight-span concrete structure.
A dive inspection in 2021 uncovered severe structural damage to the bridge piles. As the damage was significant, to manage public safety, the bridge and the waterway beneath it were closed to traffic in July 2021.
MLEI undertook investigations and design to inform the required repair works, with underwater repairs being completed in February 2022, allowing load limits and traffic restrictions to be removed. Above-water repairs to the concrete piers, bridge girders and the deck was completed in late 2022. This included the installation of a cathodic protection system to increase the useful life of the structure, which was commissioned in August 2023.
Our analysis and testing demonstrated early on that the bridge could sustain one lane of light traffic, which led to the partial re-opening of the bridge 2 months later to provide urgent access for Rawdon Island residents to the outside world.
MLEI provided the following services:
- Onsite underwater inspections and material testing
- Trigger, action and response planning (TARP)
- Structural assessment and FE modelling
- Load testing
- Design and design management
- Procurement
- Client-side project management
- Site supervision & quality assurance
- Commissioning and handover.