Precast solution to space limitations

Hyder Consulting’s highway designers are gaining international recognition for precast construction techniques to overcome tight space limitations within heavily built infrastructure corridors and urban areas.
 
Our broad range of skills were called upon to build the complex dual three-lane Lai Chi Kok Viaduct in Hong Kong, a major overpass that winds above the industrial area of Cheung Sha Wan to eventually link with the landmark Stonecutters Bridge in West Kowloon.
 
Faced with this difficult challenge, the team custom-designed a precast segmental box girder deck with span lengths ranging from 60 m to 80 m to weave past buildings and over flyovers and main roads They also had to avoid a myriad of underground infrastructure for mass transit tunnels, water, sewerage, gas, electricity, and telecommunications.
 
The innovative design concept takes advantage of the continuous deck and flexible frame substructure to evenly distribute potential horizontal wind loading and earthquake pressures along the length of the viaduct and reduce stress on individual columns or footings. The viaduct design has the additional advantage of lower maintenance costs for the Hong Kong Government.