Paper No.
668
introduced from last 2 to 3 years for the benefit
of general public. Bridge and flyover construction
of late are exceeding period of completion 5 to
6 years in many cases, however generally 1km
length of bridge is taking about 2 years presently.
That means progress achieved per day is 1.40 M,
where as in our neighbouring countries it is 1410
meters a day. We should seriously introspect about
our weaknesses in the system to immediately put it
in, course correction mode. As such it is imperative
to shift over to Accelerated Bridge Construction
(ABC) methods to implement flyover and bridge
projects. Where a bridge takes months or years, a
bridge utilising ABC may be completed in matter of
weeks, days or even hours. In order to minimise
mobility impact which occur due to on site
construction activity, the ABC is phenomenal shift
in the project planning and procurement approach.
The additional in-built benefits of ABC are quality,
safety, durability, social cost and environmental
impact.
3.2 The broader meaning of ABC in the
construction is, innovative planning with designs,
materials and construction methods in a safe and
cost effective manner to reduce on site construction
time. Whereas conventional bridge construction
does not significantly reduce on-site construction
time, which are highly time consuming and weather
dependent.
3.3 ABC Technology is that which Uses
3.3.1 Innovative planning
3.3.2 Innovative designs
3.3.3 Innovative materials
3.3.4 Construction in safe manner
3.3.5 Construction in cross effective manner
3.4 Reduced Cost to the Society
Total monetary cost of construction can be measured
in two ways, one is actual cost of construction in
rupees, second is monetary cost to the society
by way of diversions, loss of productive time to
citizens etc measured in rupees. The intent of ABC
is to reduce construction time there by reducing
cost to the society. Advantages of ABC are;
3.4.1 The ABC improves
 Total project delivery time
 Site Constructability
 Material quality & its durability
Journal of the indian Roads Congress, July - September, 2017 73
 Work zone safety for travelling
public.
3.4.2 ABC reduces
 Traffic impacts
 On site construction time
 Weather related delay
3.4.3 ABC can also minimise
 Environmental impacts
 Impact to existing roadway alignment
 Utility relocations
3.5 Measurement of Effectiveness of ABC
Two time matrix are used for gauging the
effectiveness of ABC.
 On site construction time
 Mobility impact time
The on-site construction time and mobility impact
time need to be reduced to the least possible to
make ABC a success.
3.6 ABC Technology Means
3.6.1 Planning shall be on fast track
3.6.2 Designs, communications on fast tract
3.6.3 Construction on fast track
3.6.4 Quality control and testing on fast track
6.6.5 All aspects related to the project on fast
track
3.7 Strategies of ABC Systems are:
3.7.1 Bridge shall be as light as possible
 Size to be manageable for
transportation and installation.
 Simplified transportation and erection
of bridge components
 Can improve load rating of
existing piers and foundations
3.7.2 Bridge should be as simple as possible
 Fewer girders
 Fewer field splices
 Fewer bracing systems
 No temporary bracing to be removed.
3.7.3 Bridge shall be as simple to erect as possible
 Fewer workers on site
 Fewer cast-in place operations
 No false work structures required for
pre-fabricated elements & systems.