Waterman Moylan provided design and construction administration services in connection with two road crossings over the new LUAS tram line at Balally, Dundrum.
The bridge works were part of a large mixed-use development at the site and were designed as integral structures to eliminate the need for bearings and movement joints, and thus the maintenance requirements that accompany these.
The new structures were formed from precast super TY beams with structural concrete toppings which sat on in-situ concrete abutment walls and 600 mm diameter CFA piles.
As Wyckham Bridge straddled a trunk water main, both abutments were designed to span a 10 m zone centred on the water main.
The simple form of the integral bridge design led to a very rapid construction period of five months, allowing all works to be completed ahead of the LUAS contractor taking possession of the cutting along which the track runs.
The project also included the extension of the Wyckham Bypass through the site which comprised the construction of a bus drop-off terminus at the new LUAS station and extensive modification to the very busy Sandyford Road/Wyckham Bypass. A combination of reinforced soil slopes, reinforced earth walls and in-situ reinforced concrete retaining walls was adopted to provide stability to the sides of the rail cutting through the site.
Client: Gannon Properties
