Die Goldbachtalbrücke ist Teil der 12 km langen Ausbaustrecke zwischen Neuental und Neustadt in Hessen.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Extending over
the valley
In progress
Germany/­Neuental-Bischhausen/­2017-19

BAB 49 BW 103 Goldbachtal Bridge

Text Uwe Fey

In June 2017, Hessen Mobil Strassen- und Verkehrsmanagement Kassel awarded PORR the construction contract for the new Goldbachtal Bridge.

Using a precise cost estimation which took PORR’s complete value chain into account, we were able to offer the best price for the complete contract. In order to ensure optimal project execution, the construction aids were developed and built from scratch.

Project data
  • Employer
    Hessen Mobil Straßen- und Verkehrsmanagement Kassel
  • Contractor
    PORR Deutschland GmbH
  • Architect
    Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner, Dresden
  • Order type
    Generalunternehmer
  • Project type
    Civil Engineering/Infrastructure . Bridge construction
  • Project scope
    Construction of a bridge 285 m long, using composite construction
  • Order volume
    20.45 million euros
  • Construction start
    07/2017
  • Construction end
    10/2019
Download printversion

Background

In 2017, Hessen’s Road and Transport ministry in Kassel (Hessen Mobil Strassen- und Verkehrsmanagement Kassel) appointed PORR as the main contractor for construction of the 285 m long Goldbachtal Bridge, which forms a component of the new section of the A49 national motorway. The contract covers setting up the construction site, earthworks and foundation work for the bridge columns, and the abutment embankments. It also incorporates manufacturing the superstructure as a composite cross-section with steel box girder and reinforced concrete slab carriageway, and constructing a concrete trough for drainage. Finally, the passive concrete and steel protection system for the parapets and the establishment of noise barriers around the abutments also form part of the contract. PORR was able to offer the best price for the complete contract by taking the company’s complete valuechain into account. PORR Deutschland GmbH’s Steel Construction and Civil Engineering departments were involved in the special civil engineering cost estimations, along with PORR special civil engineering. The Steel Construction and Infrastructure departments at PORR Deutschland are also working closely together during project implementation.n.

Several construction aids were planned and developed during the project.
Uwe Fey
Project Manager, PORR Deutschland

Extensive preparations

As soon as the contract had been awarded, planning work began on the electricity supply to the construction site, site facilities and access roads. The client had made available their verified structural analyses and object planning, including the material distribution plan for the steel superstructure, meaning that PORR was also able to make an immediate start on execution planning and designs for the steel construction, substructures and construction aids. The decision was made to design and build our own components for the incremental launch procedure. These include the launch rockers used on the abutments and columns, and in the prefabrication area. We also created a launching nose for launching the steel base, plus the launching system itself, which includes a lateral slide strand jack of our own design. These will eventually become part of the PORR inventory, enabling us to deepen our value chain for future similar construction schemes by using our own equipment.

Components including the launch rockers, a launching nose for shifting the individual sections and a launch system including a lateral slide strand jack of our own design were developed from scratch and can now be used for other projects.
Components including the launch rockers, a launching nose for shifting the individual sections and a launch system including a lateral slide strand jack of our own design were developed from scratch and can now be used for other projects. Source: PORR
Components including the launch rockers, a launching nose for shifting the individual sections and a launch system including a lateral slide strand jack of our own design were developed from scratch and can now be used for other projects.

The bridge takes shape

As soon as the preliminary work was complete, the Special Civil Engineering department began work manufacturing the bored piles along the lines where the columns would emerge. Although the drilling team had to battle through unusually hard rock, the special civil engineering works were completed on time in May 2018. Meanwhile, work on the columns had begun in parallel with the bored piles in March 2018. The columns were manufactured using a climbing formwork with climbing section lengths of 5 m, then reinforced and concreted. The exposed formwork was created using a board structure with a rough-sawn surface.

The columns have a height of just 30 m.
The columns have a height of just 30 m. Source: PORR
The columns have a height of just 30 m.

March 2018 also saw the start of work on the 160 m long and 30 m wide prefabrication area where the steel structure was assembled. At the same time, the embankment for the abutments was being constructed. The foundation for the abutment was integrated into the embankment. It is founded on the load-bearing colluvial deposit and made from unreinforced concrete. This foundation was built in during construction of the embankment as underfill for the abutment foundation. Around 3,000 m³ of concrete was built into each abutment for this purpose.

Around 25,000 m³ of earth had to be excavated for the prefabrication area, and stored to one side for later replacement.
Around 25,000 m³ of earth had to be excavated for the prefabrication area, and stored to one side for later replacement. Source: PORR
Around 25,000 m³ of earth had to be excavated for the prefabrication area, and stored to one side for later replacement.

Complex steel work with our own construction aids

In the middle of April 2018, the time came to set in place the eleven prefabricated steel components for launch cycle 1 of the first section of the eastern superstructure. Delivery of the steel components, weighing up to 85 t and measuring 35 m in length, represented an enormous logistic challenge for this process.

Gallery
Unloading the 85 t steel components for the Goldbachtal Bridge.
Unloading the 85 t steel components for the Goldbachtal Bridge. Source: PORR
1 | 2
Unloading the 85 t steel components for the Goldbachtal Bridge.
Six weeks of metalwork and welding preceded the successful launch.
Six weeks of metalwork and welding preceded the successful launch. Source: PORR
2 | 2
Six weeks of metalwork and welding preceded the successful launch.

The steel components for the second section of the superstructure were unloaded in the middle of July, following the successful first launch section; these were then assembled and launching continued until September. Due to the height of the launch rockers, the eastern superstructure was launched into a position elevated by around 30 cm. Once the launch was complete, the structure was lowered to its final position, and the prefabrication area was converted ready for work to begin on the western superstructure.

Extract from a launch cycle plan.
Extract from a launch cycle plan. Source: Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner
Extract from a launch cycle plan.

Looking ahead

The abutments and columns have now been completed. The steel components for the western superstructure have been shifted already or are on-site ready for assembly. The formwork carriage for creating the carriageway slabs has been assembled; production of the slabs began in December 2018 using a back-and-forth process where the carriageway slab in the centre of the bridge area is concreted first of all, followed by the slabs above the columns.

Manufacture of the parapets will start in spring 2019, using PORR’s own parapet formwork carriage, specially designed in 2018 for the Rothof Valley and Goldbachtal bridges. Corrosion protection work on the inside and outside of the steel box girder will likewise take place. In summer 2019, the cladding work will be carried out and the superstructure kitted out.

Assembling the formwork carriage (Mfr: Weise, Dortmund) for producing the composite carriageway slabs.
Assembling the formwork carriage (Mfr: Weise, Dortmund) for producing the composite carriageway slabs. Source: PORR
Assembling the formwork carriage (Mfr: Weise, Dortmund) for producing the composite carriageway slabs.

Technical data

80,000 m³ approx.
Excavation volume
19.100 m³
Concrete incorporated
  • Construction pit depths
    Up to 12 m
  • Bridge lengths
    2x 285 m
  • Asphalt
    1260 t poured asphalt MA
  • Bored piles
    D 1500 mm, L up to 18.50 m
  • Steel incorporated
    2.700 t
  • Reinforced concrete
    2.200 t

More projects

Exciting projects from the World of PORR.

Rendering of the new 190m high office and hotel tower ONE (centre, light grey) in the Frankfurt banking quarter.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
ONE Frankfurt am Main
In Frankfurt CA Immo is realising the tower ONE. PORR special civil engineering made a waterproof construction trough and pile foundation works.
The 250m-long Dorfnest railway bridge allows for smooth crossing above the airport line.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Dorfnest at Kloten overpass
PORR SUISSE AG is implementing a new overpass construction scheme in Dorfnest at Kloten on one of the most heavily-trafficked railway lines in Switzerland.
A train passing along the refurbished tracks at the Biała Rawska crossover.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Railway construction LK4
In the last two years, PORR has carried out four projects along one of Poland’s most important railway lines for the investor PKP PLK S.A.
Partial structure 1 in May 2018, shortly before completion.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Marbach valley bridge
At the edge of Dillenburg, PORR Deutschland GmbH is constructing a 388m long bridge over the valley which will completely replace the existing bridge.
Turda motorway junction – linking the new A10 Sebeș – Turda motorway with the existing A3 motorway.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Motorway A10 Sebeș – Turda
Romania's national body for motorways and national roads commissioned PORR with the design and construction of a 16.3km section of the Sebeş to Turda motorway.
Manufacture of a new concrete cover layer.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
D2 motorway restoration
Within eight weeks, PORR a.s. executed the complete restoration of the road surface structure on a 9km-long section of the D2 motorway in the Czech Republic.
Gruppenfoto zur Maschinenübergabe der Tunnelvortriebsmaschine.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
U5 Europaviertel
Stadtbahn Europaviertel Projektbaugesellschaft mbH awarded the U5 Europaviertel consortium to build a 1,16m long underground section of the U5 city rail line.
Die umgelegte Wehrklappe im neuen Kraftwerk.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Hydroelectric power plant
in Kremsbrücke
PORR Bau GmbH has constructed a small power plant between the towns of Kremsbrücke and Gmünd in the Liesertal valley of Carinthia, Austria.
Die Tunnelbohrmaschine für die Errichtung des Tunnels unter dem Humber-Fluss.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
Humber Crossing
The existing Feeder 9 gas pipeline must be replaced. It will run through a tunnel which is to be constructed under the Humber estuary in England.
In weniger als fünf Monaten verpasste die PORR der Wiener Uferzone mit einem Wechselspiel aus Grünflächen und Sichtbeton ein völlig neues Antlitz.
Civil engineering/infrastructure
The CopaBeach on the
Danube Island in Vienna
The CopaBeach in Vienna is to be transformed into a modern local resort in three construction phases. PORR completed the demanding first part in record time.