Réunion Island's New Coastal Road: A Viaduct with a Wide Precast Deck and Piers. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duclos, Thierry; Djessas, Brahim; Chebbi, Fahed; Leonard, Romain
• Is Part Of: Structural engineering international. Volume 28:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 111
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: precast -- segments -- prestressing -- shear keys -- finite elements; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; 624.1
• DOI: 10.1080/10168664.2018.1450694
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1016-8664

Abstract

Abstract: After massive rock falls from a cliff cut off Réunion Island's current four-lane coastal road, a decision was made to replace it with the New Coastal Road, allowing the inhabitants of Réunion Island—situated in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar—to travel between Saint-Denis and its commercial harbour quickly and safely. Saint-Denis is the capital in the east and the harbour is approximately 20 km west, near to La Possession. Almost completely situated at sea, the project stretches over 12.5 km and will primarily consist of the Grande Chaloupe Viaduct—a series of dykes spanning a total length of 6.7 km—and a viaduct spanning 5.4 km that is made up of seven viaducts of equal length. This paper examines a large viaduct prefabricated in its entirety near the harbour and then assembled at sea using the cantilever method. Due to its wide deck (28.9 m) and thin webs, the analysis focuses on the safe design of a structure situated in an environment prone to cyclones, strong swells and seismic events. The contract for the design and construction of the new viaduct was signed in 2014; the project is due for completion in 2018/2019.