Cremorne Railway Bridge

Cremorne Railway Bridge: Suspended Scaffolding Over the Yarra River 

The Cremorne Railway Bridge is located three kms south east of Melbourne. It links Richmond and South Yarra stations over the Yarra River. Spanning the scenic Yarra River, this bridge is a vital link for transport, pedestrians, and cyclists, promoting sustainable and active transportation.

We were involved in the Cremorne Railway Bridge maintenance and repair project, which had unique requirements. The task at hand was to conduct inspections and perform bridge bearing maintenance works on Pier 1 and Pier 2 of the bridge, which extended over the Yarra River, presenting significant logistical challenges. The work was to be carried out approximately 6 meters above the water level, necessitating the development of a specialised scaffolding solution. Adding complexity to the project, the bridge’s drawings were over 70 years old, making it imperative to leverage in-house expertise and conduct site visits for consultations.

The primary challenge was the bridge’s location spanning the river, leaving no easy access to the piers. To overcome this, the team designed a walkway within the bridge girders, reaching a height of 3 meters to access the girder. A stretcher-compliant access stair was built to facilitate entry into the girder for constructing the walkway.

Safety was paramount throughout the project, and extensive consultations with our OH&S Manager ensured safety measures were in place. This included having an in-house rescue team trained in specialised retrieval equipment and a boat on standby in case a worker entered the water. Scaffolders were harnessed while erecting the structure, ensuring their safety. During night works, permits were obtained to isolate the area, preventing boats from passing under the bridge.

Our innovative solution involved constructing the walkway using Layher O-decks and tubes. As live rail equipment was situated above the bridge, gear had to be passed from underneath the bridge. A lightweight scaffold system was designed and suspended from the bridge using swivel girder couplers and tubes to accomplish this. The project progressed by first hanging the scaffold from the bridge in the central bay, after which Layher diagonal braces were employed to enhance stability and aid in the scaffold’s construction.  Despite the bridge’s location and aged plans, the team successfully designed and executed an innovative scaffolding solution, allowing efficient work and worker safety throughout the project.