7 minute read
Main Roads host specific Industry Session about Bridge Assessments for OSOM Vehicles
During our scheduled regional workshops and information sessions, Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) received queries from industry in relation to increasing Over Size Over Mass (OSOM) vehicle axle spacings range, the bridge assessment process for OSOM vehicles and why certain permit conditions are applied by Main Roads Structures Engineering Branch (SEB).
Advertisement
In response to these requests, HVS recently hosted a specific industry information session where SEB Engineers attended to provide greater insight into their OSOM vehicle bridge assessment processes. It was well supported by industry with attendance both in person and online.
At the session, SEB Engineers provided a series of presentations commencing with a summary of the various construction types used for bridges in WA, bridge design life, the common bridge defects found in WA, and the role of SEB in managing bridges to ensure vehicles crossing are not overloading them.
The presentations also provided a detailed look at the specific criteria SEB is required to use when assessing OSOM vehicles crossing a particular bridge. Some of the key messages included: • The ground contact width, axle
spacings and axle weights of the OSOM vehicle are all critical inputs in bridge assessments. • The impact of the OSOM vehicle on a bridge needs to be quantified, keeping in mind the different movement locations over a bridge, the vehicle speed while crossing, the type of bridge, the bridge span configuration and the current bridge condition. • In WA there are different categories of bridges and differing bridge span configurations, which requires SEB to analyse each OSOM vehicle for each bridge to determine the absolute maximum load that can be carried.
• Because SEB intends providing the absolute maximum loading possible for a bridge, it is critical to have all necessary and accurate information about the OSOM vehicle to complete the required bridge assessments. • The application of permit conditions that require the heavier OSOM vehicles to travel in the centre of the bridge and at a maximum of 10 km/h is often required due to these conditions satisfactorily reducing the impacts of the
OSOM vehicle on the bridge.
Ahead of the session, attendees were also invited to submit any questions they had relating to the SEB bridge assessments process, which provided the opportunity for them to be addressed as part of the presentations and/or have them directly answered by SEB Engineers. Some common themes from the questions included: • Can industry be provided with a better online guide to show the minimum ground contact width requirement for individual bridge load capacities and when Bridge Video Supervision conditions would be applied to a bridge, on major OSOM routes? • Would Main Roads consider increasing the allowable mass limits for low loaders under an annual 8 Tyre Per Axle Low
Loader Period Permit? • Could the approval period for a single trip permit be increased from one month to three months and could more than one trip be allowed?
At the session it was confirmed that a revised guide for bridges on common OSOM routes is already being developed by SEB and will soon be published on the Main Roads website. The new guide is based on the previous table published under HVO Update 33-2008 but is an improved more user-friendly version, which will include many common routes.
It was also confirmed that HVS and SEB are currently working together to develop a new 8 Tyre Per Axle Low Loader Period Permit to allow access on an approved network of roads, which has been developed using historical permit data. Using a network approach will allow the permit to be introduced and operators will be able to apply to have additional roads added to the network, subject to the necessary bridge assessments. It is expected the formal bridge assessments and developmental work for the period permit will be finalised soon.
SEB engineers were also able to explain the reasoning why single trip permits can only be issued for a single trip and up to one month, which is due to the safety factors and currency of the bridge information considered in the bridge assessment process. Allowing more than one trip and/or extending the timeframe would see an increase in the safety factors applied and would likely require a reduction in the allowable loads for a particular bridge.
Feedback received about the session has been very positive, with attendees appreciating the opportunity to have their questions answered directly by SEB Engineers.
HVS would like to thank all those who attended the session and the SEB Engineers for taking the time to meet with industry and present on their bridge assessment processes. The session certainly provided industry attendees a greater understanding of the issues involved in bridge assessments.
1
Bridge Assessment for OSOM vehicles
Adam Lim – Senior Engineer Structures (Manager – Structures Branch) Jewely Parvin - Structures Asset policy Engineer (Heavy Loads Group) Raquib Hossain – Engineer Bridge Loading (Heavy Loads Group)
WA
TRANSPORT
magazine
VOLUME 28 | NUMBER 8
Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd
Telephone 0430 153 273 www.angrychicken.com.au
ABN: 35 486 530 095
PUBLISHER / COMMISSIONING EDITOR
Karen-Maree’ Kaye T: 0430 153 273 Email: karen@angrychicken.com.au
WRITERS
Karen-Maree' Kaye, Russell McKinnon
CONTRIBUTORS
Jan Cooper, Cam Dumesny, Carol Messenger, Ray Pratt
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Angry Chicken Head Office T: 0430 153 273 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au
DESIGN / PREPRESS
Cally Browning | Bare Creative
ACCOUNTS
T: 0430 153 273 E: accounts@angrychicken.com.au
PRINTER
Daniels Printing Craftsmen
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions available directly from the Publisher. T: 0430 153 273 E: karen@angrychicken.com.au Australia: 1 year $76.45 (inc GST) 2 years $152.90 (inc GST) Overseas subscribers: Airmail postage will be added to subscription rate.
Editorial Submissions: The Publisher welcomes editorial submissions. Once received they will become the property of the Publisher who reserves the right to edit the or adjust the content to fit with the format of our publication.
West Australian Transport Magazine (WATM) is published by Angry Chicken Publishing Pty Ltd ABN: 35 486 530 095 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted or transmitted in any form by any process (graphic, electronic, mechanical or storage and retrieval system) or sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any purpose without consent of the Publisher. The publisher, contributors, editors and consultants disclaim any and all liability and responsibility to any person or party, be they a purchaser, reader, advertiser or consumer of this publication in regards to consequences and outcomes of anything done or omitted, or being in reliance whether partly or solely on the contents of this publication. No person, organization or party should rely on or on any way act upon any part of the contents of this magazine without first obtaining the advice of a fully qualified person. The Publisher shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by contributor, consultant, editor or related party for content within WATM. The opinions and content within WATM does not necessarily reflect those of the Publisher, editor or their agents. No responsibility is accepted for damage or loss of material supplied to the publisher.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Thank you to the people who comment on the HCVC content in each edition of the magazine… and I just loved this month’s contribution – A visit to Fred’s (Page 22). Stories like this remind us to enjoy our best life and be happy and I felt transported into Fred’s warm Shed on a on a cold and wet winters day surrounded by good humour and history.
On Page two some important news for industry from Main Roads HVO regarding queries they have received from industry in relation to increasing Over Size Over Mass (OSOM) vehicle axle spacing range, the bridge assessment process for OSOM vehicles and why certain permit conditions are applied by Main Roads Structures Engineering Branch (SEB).
Lots more in this edition including the quick thinking driver Cory Stirling who saved over a 100 head of cattle in a trailer fire on the Tanami Road to bodies in Australia talking about scrapping the HVNL and having one Federal Act. See what Western Roads Federation has to say on the HVNL Review on Page 14.
As always, thank you to everyone for your support.
Best, Karen
CONTENTS
2..............................................Main Roads host specific Industry Session about Bridge Assessments for OSOM Vehicles
6..............................................Fenix Resources acquires Fenix Newhaul 7...............................................Safety boost for road traffic controllers following signage review 8..............................................Black Spot funding making a difference on WA roads 9..............................................Delivery choice to fuel eCommerce and retail industry growth 12 ...........................................Mobile point to point safety cameras on the move in WA 13 ...........................................Silk Logistics acquires Fremantle Freight & Storage Group
14...........................................Western Roads Federation – HVNL Review
16...........................................Talk about scrapping HVNL and replacing with a single Federal Act
17............................................Operation Regional Shield making an impact 18...........................................Tanami Road truck fire – Driver saves over 100 head of cattle
19...........................................LRTAWA Event Invitation
21 ...........................................Research finds women motorists more truck aware than men
Every Month
10...........................................Fair Go for Owner Drivers 16...........................................Bird’s Eye View 22.........................................HCVC 24.........................................WA Transport History Endorsed by
