After the launch of 15 steel bridges at various locations in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, as part of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, the first steel bridge in Maharashtra has now been launched.

The massive 100-metre-long steel bridge, weighing 1,405 metric tonnes, has been installed over NH-3 (Nashik Highway) near Dive-Anjur village in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra's Thane district.

Bridge Fabricated 1,300 Km Away

The bridge was fabricated at a specialised workshop in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, nearly 1,300 kilometres from the launch site.

After fabrication, the completed steel structure was transported to Maharashtra using special trailers and assembled at the site.

The fabrication process included cutting, drilling, welding and painting, all carried out according to prescribed technical standards. Ultrasonic Testing (UT) was also conducted on every production batch of steel to check its quality.

At the site, the bridge was assembled using a skid arrangement supported by 22 temporary trestles, positioned around 17.5 metres above the ground.

The structure was secured using 54,076 Tor-Shear Type High-Strength Bolts (TTHSB).

Automated System Used To Position Bridge

Advanced technology was used to move the assembled bridge into its designated position.

The structure was pulled into place using an automated system powered by two hollow jacks, each having a capacity of 150 metric tonnes, along with pre-tensioned Macalloy bars.

A protective painting system and elastomeric bearings have also been used to improve the durability of the bridge and help control vibrations.

Work Carried Out During Night Traffic Block

The launching operation was planned to minimise disruption to traffic on the busy Nashik Highway.

The bridge was moved into position during a scheduled night-time traffic block, allowing the work to be carried out while limiting the impact on highway traffic.

100-Metre Bridge Weighs 1,405 Tonnes

The key specifications of the steel bridge are:

• Length: 100 metres
• Main bridge weight: 1,405 metric tonnes
• Height: 14 metres
• Width: 14 metres

Steel bridges are generally used at locations where the corridor requires longer spans, including crossings over highways, expressways, railway lines and rivers.

A total of 28 steel bridges are planned along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor. With the latest launch in Maharashtra, 16 steel bridges have now been successfully completed, according to the project details.