Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE Ltd) has constructed a double-lane portable steel bridge in record time. The Research and Development team of GRSE was responsible for the construction of a bailey type double-lane portable steel bridge. The GRSE steel bridge has eased heavy traffic and established links between roads/highways by playing a vital role in strategic surface transport networks.
Scientists from the Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC), CSIR have validated the bridge through live load tested for double Class-A vehicle loading as per the latest Indian standard, viz, Indian Road Congress (IRC-6). The construction of the bridge was carried out inside the company's premises near Belur station in Kolkata. The construction of the Launching Abutment for the bridge was completed and the bridge, the first of its kind in India, was launched on August 30.
The pre-fabricated bridge has a span of 42.67m without intermediate pier and a width of 7.5m. It can support two-way traffic comprising of heavy vehicles with a total load of about 110MT. With a modular design facilitating easy assembly, these bridges can be erected quickly even in the most demanding of terrains and conditions. These are ideal for remote areas as onsite installation infrastructure is not required. The bridge is expected to be thrown open to traffic in about 30-45 days from the day of commencement of foundation work. With the launch of the new Bailey bridge, GRSE has reinforced its position as the largest manufacturer of bailey type portable steel bridges in India. The pioneer has around 70 percent market share and has delivered over 5,100 bridges till date in the 40 years since it started bridge fabrication, an official release said.