01 December 2009

RMD Kwikform Middle East is supplying a complete formwork and falsework system for the construction of the bridges on Dubai’s Parallel Roads project.

The new 10-km, six-lane road, incorporating five bridges is a much-needed bypass system running through Jumeirah Lakes for the new developments in Dubai and will link up to the Al Khail Road, which is also undergoing improvement. It is estimated that, once opened, the road will have an intake of a staggering 18,000 vehicles per hour, providing the much needed-relief to Dubai’s crowded infrastructure.

The contract for the Dh449.2-million ($122 million) Phase 3A of the road has been awarded to Italian firm Todini Construzione Generali, a newcomer to the Middle East construction scene. Hence, RMD Kwikform Middle East’s hard-earned reputation in this competitive arena made it the perfect formwork and falsework solution for Todini, according to the Stuart Bland, key account manager for Dubai.

“RMD Kwikform Middle East has been awarded this contract because of its extensive experience in the Middle East,” says Bland. “We are currently working on bridge EW01. For this particular bridge, we have supplied Todini with a high-loading Rapidshor shoring system. Designed to customer specification, the system has been constructed to support a 75 kN leg load.”

Elaborating on the systems used on the project, he says: “The bridge itself runs along a radius; this means we have had to design the shoring to accommodate this feature. The design incorporates a series of Rapidshor towers along the width and length of the bridge. These are then linked together with scaffold tube lacing and topped with Superslim Soldiers to help provide additional stability and strength to the shoring.

“The bridge itself requires a cantilever on each edge. To create this, we have been able to use standard RMD Kwikform equipment. The cantilever form has been constructed using Superslim Soldiers with a specialised crank Soldier that allows us to make adjustments to accurately create the exact profile of the bridge. Once the profile is formed, wooden GTX beams are fixed in place to form the shuttering to shape the concrete when poured.

“The cantilever, made up of several smaller sections, is individually constructed onsite and then craned on to the bridge. This is done by using a ‘C Hook’, supplied by RMD Kwikform Middle East, which allows each of the cantilever sections to be moved accurately into place fully assembled.

“This whole process provides considerable savings to programme times and is vital to delivering projects such as this on time. Additionally, cantilever sections such as these are traditionally made of structural steel, which needs to be purchased and fabricated. By using standard RMD Kwikform equipment, we have provided a much more versatile solution that is incredibly cost-effective for the customer.

“The cantilever forms, once craned in place, are fixed directly to the Rapidshor shoring, and topped with an RMD Kwikform double-guard rail along the full length of the bridge to help ensure the safety of workers on the bridge.”
The bridge is a post-tensioned construction. Within the 15-m-wide bridge are two separate box-sections called cells. Internal web wall and diaphragm walls are poured to create these cells, which are completed with the pouring of the slab. For this, Todini is using a 45 kN Kwikstage system with primary and secondary GTX beams.

Commenting on the success of the cantilever solution, Todini Construzione Generali site assistant manager Riccardo Lameri, says: “The cantilevers are assembled on the ground and then lifted onto the bridge, making them very easy to assemble, and because we can make them in advance, we can work effectively and efficiently throughout the day.
“The RMD Kwikform Middle East solution has allowed us to work on both sides of the bridge at the same time, which is a better way to manage our human resources. We can work on one side producing the cantilever and on the other side with the falsework for the slab.

“The contract was put out to tender and RMD Kwikform Middle East delivered the best solution in line with the projects programme time and budget. As this is our first project in the Middle East, it was important to get a formwork and falsework supplier that knew the Middle East construction scene and RMD Kwikform Middle East’s reputation is well founded.”

“The dedicated onsite support and the formwork and falsework system supplied have resulted in Todini Construzione Generali awarding the contract for the remaining bridges to RMD Kwikform Middle East,” says Bland. “The result of our work here has enhanced the reputation of RMD Kwikform Middle East with Todini Construzioni, and we look forward to developing this relationship for all future projects. By proven technical and support services on the ground, the learning barrier is overcome with new systems and guarantees a successful project.”

Work on Phase 3a of the Parallel Roads project is scheduled for completion shortly.

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