Precast bridge abutment walls cast with 50% SCM concrete mix.
Recently designed and manufactured for the Ison Road Overpass in Werribee, these bridge abutment retaining walls by Reinforced Earth are a sustainable first for Victoria. The structures are the first in the state to be successfully cast with a 50% reduction in General Portland cement; the lowest level of cement that has been used in a concrete mix for bridge retaining walls.
This 50% reduction surpassed required project targets of 30% and demonstrates how national precast concrete suppliers can more impactfully contribute to sustainable infrastructure development.
Reinforced Earth designed and manufactured the two (North & South) bridge abutment walls for the Ison Road Overpass project, utilising our TerraPlus® mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) walls solution with the 50% supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) concrete mix.
Victoria’s Big Build
Part of Victoria’s Big Build, construction of the road rail overpass began in January to help provide a vital link from Wyndham West to the Princes Freeway. The project will include construction of a new road overpass bridge across the Melbourne-Geelong railway line, extending the road south towards Browns Road. Wyndham City Council will construct a future section of Ison Road connecting to the overpass bridge.
Carbon Reduction
To achieve such a high level of SCM replacement for the project is an exciting, innovative step, which highlights the possibilities of how the precast concrete industry can reduce our carbon footprint and help to deliver more sustainable infrastructure.
At Reinforced Earth, we understand the responsibility that we have as individuals and a company in making sure we play our part in protecting the future of our planet. As part of the company’s own Carbon Reduction Plan, RECo has undertaken a number of innovative steps:
- Developed the approved 50% SCM mix used above for the Ison Overpass in Werribee
- Optimising the design of all of our precast solutions to minimise required materials
- Pushing innovation in soil reinforcement design to allow use of recycled fills and marginal fills
- Offering off-site modular precast construction to reduce wastage associated with on-site construction
Contact your local Reinforced Earth Australia office to discuss using a 50% SCM concrete mix in your next infrastructure project.
