Roddy Engineering were engaged by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake the design, fabrication and installation of a new handrailing system to the Port Phillip Track Bridge within Kosciuszko National Park. The works were undertaken in a remote and environmentally sensitive alpine location, requiring careful planning around site access, existing infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
Prior to fabrication, Roddy Engineering undertook a site inspection to assess the existing bridge and determine the requirements for the new handrail system. Design and drafting were then completed, with the handrails designed to suit the existing bridge structure and surrounding landscape. The contract required the new system to comply with Australian Standards and NPWS requirements, including a nominal 1200 mm top rail height, two mid rails and provisions for securing the stanchions to the bridge structure.
Following completion of the design, the handrails were fabricated before being transported to site for installation. The system incorporated steel plates where bridge kerbs were missing, along with base arrangements designed to correctly position the stanchions and provide a secure installation. Materials were specified to be black steel to match the existing bridge steelwork and help the completed works blend with the surrounding environment.
Installation presented additional challenges due to the bridge being located over a flowing river within a sensitive natural environment. Works therefore required strict environmental controls and careful planning to minimise disturbance to the site and surrounding waterways. The contract also required environmental management measures covering issues such as erosion and sediment control, waste management, spill prevention and protection of the surrounding vegetation and waterways.
The completed works provided a safer and more secure handrailing system while maintaining the character of the existing bridge and minimising the visual impact of the new infrastructure within the Kosciuszko National Park landscape.
