Step 1
Remove Existing
The existing bridge deck and deteriorated abutment structures are removed. In many cases this is the most significant programme element of a bridge replacement; the GCS® construction phase that follows is comparatively rapid.
GSIBRIDGE™
Rapid bridge abutment construction using GCS® technology — faster, more cost-effective, and simpler to consent.
GSI BRIDGE
When a bridge has reached the end of its structural life and abutment rehabilitation is not sufficient, GSIBRIDGE™ delivers a complete replacement solution using Geosynthetically Confined Soil (GCS®) abutment technology. GCS® abutments use high-strength geosynthetic confinement to form a strong, stable abutment structure that supports the bridge deck without deep piled foundations or complex formed concrete. The result is faster construction, lower cost, and a consenting process that is significantly simpler than conventional replacement.
New Zealand's rural road network depends on thousands of single-span bridges, many of which are approaching or have exceeded their design life. For local road controlling authorities, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and private landowners managing farm access, the cost of conventional bridge replacement (with its piled foundations, formed concrete abutments, complex falsework and lengthy consenting) is often difficult to justify for a crossing that serves a limited number of vehicles per day. GSIBRIDGE™ was developed to solve this problem: delivering a structurally sound, engineered bridge replacement at a fraction of conventional cost and in a fraction of the time.
SUITED TO
- —Rural road single-span bridge replacements; farm access and forestry road crossings
- —Secondary network bridges managed by local councils and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi where conventional replacement cost cannot be justified
- —Sites where programme is critical and concrete cure time is a constraint; environmentally sensitive sites requiring minimal ground disturbance
- —Replacement of bridges damaged by flood scour or Cyclone Gabrielle
GSI NZ CAPABILITY
- —No deep foundations, no concrete formwork, no curing delays: GCS® abutments constructed in layers using geosynthetic-confined compacted fill
- —Complete replacement in days for straightforward sites: from abutment removal to deck installation under one contract
- —Established consenting history in New Zealand, with a simpler resource consent pathway than conventional piled abutment construction
- —Complements GSIAbutments™: where the existing structure can be rehabilitated in place, both services available from the same integrated team under one contract
THE GSI DIFFERENCE
ONE TEAM.
ONE CONTRACT.
- —GCS® abutment construction avoids the deep foundations, formed concrete, and extended programme of conventional abutment replacement, delivering significant cost savings on most bridge replacement projects.
- —GCS® abutments can be constructed rapidly with a small crew and standard equipment; bridge replacement programmes that traditionally run over weeks can be compressed significantly.
- —A well-proven technology with an established consenting history in New Zealand, avoiding some of the more complex structural engineering consenting pathways associated with conventional piled abutments.
HOW WE APPROACH GSIBRIDGE™
Step 2
Construct GCS® Abutments
New GCS® abutments are constructed using geosynthetic-confined compacted fill. The abutments are built rapidly with a small crew: no deep foundations, no formwork, no concrete curing delays.
Step 3
Install Bridge Deck
The new bridge deck is installed on the completed GCS® abutments. The bridge is then commissioned, inspected, and returned to service, typically in a fraction of the time of a conventional replacement.
CAPABILITY
Bridge Replacement Without the Cost and Delay
GSIBRIDGE™ is well suited to rural road bridges, farm access crossings, and secondary infrastructure where construction budget is constrained. The combination of lower cost, faster construction, and simpler consenting makes it a practical alternative to conventional methods for these applications.
Where the existing abutment can be retained and rehabilitated rather than replaced, our GSIAbutments™ service provides a further cost saving, reinforcing the existing structure in-place without demolition. Both approaches are available from the same integrated engineering and construction team.
GSIAbutments™: In-Place Rehabilitation →FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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GSI Bridge
Solutions.
From temporary bridging for emergency access to permanent structures in remote terrain, GSI delivers bridge solutions where others struggle. Talk to our team.
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