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Bridges for Kainantu Gold Project

Client : Curtain Brothers
Location : Papua New Guinea
Year : 2004


Madsen Giersing was engaged to design two bridges as part of a design and construct contract awarded to Curtain Bros for a 17km long road for the Kainantu Gold Project in Papua New Guinea. Part of the contract was to provide road access to the mine portal within 120 days of the award of contract.

The gold mine is situated in the Eastern Highlands Province. The connecting road passes through open grassland into virgin rainforest and rises 441m. The two river crossings represented a major construction challenge in this remote part of Papua New Guinea.

The majority of the material used for the project was pre-owned by the contractor. Both bridges were designed to the AustRoad Bridge Code.

Ramu River Bridge:

The first crossing at Ramu River required a 50m long steel bridge with a central span of 35m and 7.5m approach spans at each end. The main girders consist of two existing fabricated I-beams (4.5m apart) owned by the contractor, which were modified to suit the site and application. The deck is comprised of sheet piles bolted to longitudinal members and the valleys between the sheets filled with concrete.

 

 Bridges for Kainantu Gold Project Click to view

Kasese Creek Bridge

Kasese Creek Bridge:

The second crossing at Kasese Creek, spanning a 17m deep gorge, required a 56m long steel bridge with a central span of 30m and approach spans at each end. The main girders consist of two I-beams supported on piers fabricated from Favo crane towers. The piers, founded on cast insitu foundations, are spaced 8m apart which enabled a temporary road to be built in-between. This facilitated roadwork to continue while the bridge was being built. The deck is comprised of sheet piles bolted to the top flanges of the girders and the valleys between the sheets filled with concrete.