485:
to be the lack of, or insufficient, preheat around the weld area to limit the intensity of residual stresses in the heat affected zone. In these circumstances, brittle fracture was almost guaranteed. In fact, all the cracks occurred in the HAZ of the plate material. (On the other hand, it appears unlikely that preheating could be consistently applied, and that difficulties in application could have resulted in variations in the properties of the steel, including strength loss and stress inconsistencies over the affected or nearby areas – possibly causing similar or other types of failure, such as long-term fatigue).
33:
245:
253:
929:
264:
346:, consulting engineers for Utah Australia, on behalf of the Country Roads Board, and constructed over the next two years. The substructure of the main bridge was completed in November 1959, and the east and west lanes of the low-level bridge over the Yarra were completed except for handrailing and lighting.
524:
As each span consisted of four girders, it was decided to construct large heavily reinforced concrete blocks at the ends of each pair of girders. These were to house the anchor blocks of the post tensioning cables. These blocks were held between the girders by heavy high tensile rods passing through
502:
As J&W were responsible for all plate tests, for which they were not particularly convinced were necessary, there was a great deal of bickering between CRB inspectors and J&W shop staff. The
Commissioners in their report made the statement that "We hardly know whom to blame the more, J&W
444:
The superstructure design by H&R incorporated standard design details for girders and cover plates as was common at the time for mild steel construction. CRB had allowed in the tender the use of high tensile steel to
British Standard BS 968:1941. H&R chose to use this steel to reduce weight,
484:
H&R placed the transverse welded ends of cover plates of tension flanges in regions of low stress as permitted by the specifications. Had proper consideration been given during fabrication to weld preparation, the failure of the bridge may not have occurred. The greatest oversight appeared
448:
Included in the CRB tender documents were comprehensive specifications for fabrication in high tensile steel to be read in conjunction with and additional to those of BS 968 -1941. (It was suggested that the
Standard may have had erroneous guidelines that were not supported by experience, and that
475:
Steel supplied by BHP was generally very close to the maximum tolerances regarding chemical composition. It was later revealed that the chemical composition of plates sometimes exceeded specification even when ladle analysis was within specification. BHP also did not appreciate the welding
224:
When it opened in 1961, the bridge had eight lanes across the Yarra River, two through lanes in each direction connecting King Street to Kings Way, in addition to two lanes on each side that connected to King Street to Yarra Bank Road. At the south end north facing on and off ramps connected to
476:
requirements for high tensile steel and even advised J&W on occasion that even when the chemical composition shown by ladle analysis exceeded specification, the steel was still weldable. Brittleness was of prime importance and under test, some samples did not even show a yield point.
532:
type with cast iron wedges fastening each cable into a mating block. Each cable was made up of a number of strands each containing seven high tensile wires. As an example, on span no. 11, 110 feet long, the total prestressing force employed amounted to about 11000 tonnes.
283:. Expectations were of world-wide tenders for the design and construction of a bridge 410 feet (120 m) long and 149 feet (45 m) wide and having a continued elevated structure 1,880 feet (570 m) long and 63 feet (19 m) wide over the
518:, chief structural engineer; Shandor Mokos and Tom Dobson, senior structural engineers; and Graham Ebbage, assistant structural engineer. All are deceased (2020) bar Ebbage who went on to design bridges in Melbourne, Brisbane and Hong Kong.
460:
J&W, when placing their order for steel from BHP, failed to require additional tests as per the CRB specifications. As a result, BHP only supplied ladle analyses. BHP even stated to J&W at some stage that
310:
Contractors from Utah
Australia began their operations on the site on 25 November 1957, building a temporary bridge to give access to the eventual location of the bridge's piers over the river. The passing of the
295:, Whiteman Street, Queensbridge Street, City Road and Hanna Street, and returning to the present level of Hanna Street (later Kings Way) near Grant Street, South Melbourne. Together with the construction of the
499:
During final inspection of girders, under significant pressure of time and very unsatisfactory circumstances, it was likely that the cracks which eventually caused the bridge to fail were missed.
452:
Neither UTAH nor J&W ever really appreciated the differences that high tensile steel presented in its fabrication, particularly with regards to welding. Therein started the road to failure.
303:
3.5mil. Seven tenderers submitted a total of 14 tenders for the work when tenders closed on 29 January 1957, and after examination by the Board's officers, the government accepted the tender of
319:
on 18 December 1957, granted formal permission for the bridge to be built, gave the
Country Roads Board powers to take ownership of relevant lands and not to inhibit the operations of the
521:
It had to be assumed that all girders contained cracks, whether presently detected or not. It was therefore decided to post tension all girders so as to leave no parts in tension.
1254:
536:
To protect the cables from corrosion, the cables were enclosed in fibre cement ducts and then high pressure grouted. These are what some people now see as pipes under the bridge.
236:
The south end of the bridge has been undergoing differential settlement between the approach ramps resting on fill, and the suspended section supported by bored piles.
1244:
514:
MMBW Highways
Division carried out this work. The engineering staff were William (Bill) Burren, chief engineer, Highways Division; Stan Long, 2nd in charge,
356:. It is of a welded, steel girder concrete deck cantilever-suspended span construction with suspended spans up to approximately 100 feet (30 m) long.
488:
Izod tests for plate and welds were specified. Many Izod tests, particularly for welds, were repeated after an initial failure until a pass was achieved.
57:
364:
Soon after completion, on 10 July 1962, one span collapsed under the weight of a 47-ton semi-trailer, though the weight was within the bridge limits.
1259:
349:
Traffic commenced using the east and west lanes of the low-level bridge in
November 1960, and on 12 April 1961, the main bridge was opened by the
970:
933:
327:
during construction, declared the road a "public highway" once completed, and apportioned the total cost of to be borne as follows: 65% by the
1249:
939:
620:
1229:
393:
491:
The
Commission Report stated that "A more callous disregard of the value of acceptance tests it would be difficult to imagine."
1239:
380:
September 1956. Design and construct tenders called by the
Country Roads Board of Victoria (CRB) as the Constructing Authority.
1224:
296:
511:
As authority in charge of the bridge at time of failure, MMBW was responsible for the design of the reconstruction method.
963:
1234:
564:
630:
590:
445:
so economising on the cost of the foundations. Design and construction of the foundations was undertaken by UTAH.
1112:
956:
1219:
1214:
915:
881:
1264:
979:
50:
1183:
1049:
320:
288:
1170:
683:
1132:
1064:
943:
328:
304:
279:), under instructions from the government, prepared specifications in 1956 for a bridge to cross the
145:
122:
658:"King Street Bridge – southern approach and down ramps: Report on possible rehabilitation solutions"
233:
closed Yarra Bank Road, and the bridge ramps were connected to the basement carpark of the complex.
657:
426:
343:
1079:
1029:
834:
813:
767:
733:
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226:
1157:
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316:
206:
92:
755:
32:
1152:
1069:
1014:
324:
292:
948:
814:"Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Seventh Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1960"
1019:
835:"Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Eighth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1961"
734:"Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Fourth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1957"
544:
515:
768:"Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Fifth Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1958"
713:"Country Roads Board Victoria. Forty-Third Annual Report: for the year ended 30 June 1956"
8:
1107:
1039:
1034:
350:
272:
1162:
1137:
1054:
895:
857:
540:
419:
861:. Vol. 35, no. 9, 878. Australian Capital Territory. 5 April 1961. p. 2
853:"In Victoria This Week: That King Street Bridge will be opened officially on April 12"
225:
Whiteman Street, and the running lanes from the viaduct descend to ground level, with
740:. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 21 November 1957. pp. 21, 48.
626:
332:
1193:
1188:
1175:
1147:
1142:
1059:
1009:
429:, consulting engineers, subcontractor to Utah for detailed design of superstructure
300:
1074:
1024:
472:
Not all tensile and Izod tests for different plate thicknesses were carried out.
402:
September 1962 to August 1963. Royal
Commission into the Failure of Kings Bridge.
257:
230:
218:
38:
820:. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 21 November 1960. p. 45.
774:. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 19 November 1958. p. 27.
719:. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 23 November 1956. p. 22.
1127:
1117:
1004:
841:. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 1 December 1961. p. 42.
244:
852:
785:
422:– Subcontractor to Utah for fabrication, erection and painting of girders
229:
emerging from City Road to the median strip. In the 1990s, the development of
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72:
59:
42:
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CRB (Country Roads Board) – Constructing authority and contract principal
353:
284:
280:
217:, Australia. The bridge continues south as an elevated viaduct, with the
210:
102:
999:
529:
983:
616:
466:
462:
214:
794:. No. 31, 070. Victoria, Australia. 1 December 1954. p. 8
276:
112:
790:
786:"Traffic Relief Project: £870,000 Bridge for King Street Favored"
252:
525:
each block from girder to girder, averaging about 19 rods each.
928:
978:
912:"Report of Royal Commission into the Failure of Kings Bridge"
371:" section, is taken from the report of the Royal Commission.
615:
267:
Looking south to the end of the elevated section of Kingsway
287:
at King Street, together with a viaduct crossing above the
263:
503:
for its cavalier attitude or CRB for putting up with it."
432:
165:
1255:
Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)
655:
622:
Fluid City: Transforming Melbourne's Urban Waterfront
256:Elevated section of Kingsway headed north through
1206:
406:
342:The King Street Bridge was designed in 1959 by
940:Transporting of girder through South Melbourne
435:Broken Hill Propriety Ltd. for supply of steel
964:
1245:Bridge disasters caused by engineering error
469:as per the CRB specifications were useless.
684:"Melbourne city's Kings Bridge cracking up"
479:
971:
957:
869:– via National Library of Australia.
829:
827:
802:– via National Library of Australia.
656:Kellog Brown and Root (13 November 2006).
299:, the whole project was estimated to cost
728:
726:
707:
705:
547:was MMBW site engineer for the contract.
494:
394:Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works
1260:Transport in the City of Melbourne (LGA)
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681:
262:
251:
243:
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567:. custommaps.net. 1966. Archived from
539:The reconstruction was carried out by
952:
744:
651:
649:
672:(accessed via FoI by Channel 7 news)
597:. archmedia.com.au. July–August 1997
415:UTAH Aust Ltd – Principal contractor
392:October 1961. Bridge handed over to
879:Transport Benefits from New Bridge
449:were relied upon for this design).
368:
13:
1250:Victoria (state) royal commissions
905:
646:
455:
14:
1276:
921:
682:Gardiner, Ashley (17 June 2008).
506:
396:(MMBW) as a metropolitan highway.
1230:1961 establishments in Australia
1070:Gardiners Creek Trail Footbridge
927:
374:
221:built around it in later years.
31:
888:
873:
845:
839:Country Roads Board of Victoria
818:Country Roads Board of Victoria
778:
772:Country Roads Board of Victoria
738:Country Roads Board of Victoria
717:Country Roads Board of Victoria
367:The following, except for the "
1167:Swan Street/Wallen Road Bridge
1138:Ruffey Trail Suspension Bridge
1040:Diamond Creek Trail Footbridge
1035:Darebin Creek Trail Footbridge
882:Truck & Bus Transportation
675:
609:
583:
557:
1:
1240:Bridge disasters in Australia
934:King Street Bridge, Melbourne
916:National Library of Australia
550:
407:Participants for construction
386:September 1957. Work started.
1225:Bridges over the Yarra River
980:Crossings of the Yarra River
619:, Leonie Sandercock (2004).
399:July 1962. Bridge collapsed.
389:April 1961. Open to traffic.
7:
1194:Westerfolds Park Footbridge
756:King-street Bridge Act 1957
359:
313:King-street Bridge Act 1957
10:
1281:
541:John Holland Constructions
383:May 1957. Tenders awarded.
239:
1235:Bridges completed in 1961
990:
944:State Library of Victoria
439:
427:Hardcastle & Richards
344:Hardcastle & Richards
191:
186:
171:
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157:Utah Construction Company
151:
146:Utah Construction Company
141:
136:
128:
118:
108:
98:
88:
49:
30:
23:
1176:Walmer Street Footbridge
1010:Chandler Highway Bridges
480:Cover plates and welding
297:Flinders Street overpass
73:37.822083°S 144.958056°E
1080:Hawthorn Railway Bridge
1050:Eastern Freeway Bridges
1030:Cremorne Railway Bridge
528:The cables were of the
337:City of South Melbourne
175:12 April 1961
132:Clarendon Street Bridge
37:King Street Bridge and
1158:Spotswood sewer tunnel
1113:Manningham Road Bridge
1093:Johnston Street Bridge
1065:Fitzsimons Lane Bridge
595:Architecture Australia
495:Fabrication inspection
325:St Kilda railway lines
317:Parliament of Victoria
293:St Kilda railway lines
268:
260:
249:
78:-37.822083; 144.958056
1153:Spencer Street Bridge
1084:Heyington Rail Bridge
1060:Fairfield Pipe Bridge
1015:Charles Grimes Bridge
894:Verbal briefing from
266:
255:
247:
1220:Plate girder bridges
1215:Bridges in Melbourne
1020:Church Street Bridge
936:at Wikimedia Commons
329:Victorian government
248:Viewed from the west
1265:Southbank, Victoria
1108:MacRobertson Bridge
896:Johns & Waygood
571:on 5 September 2007
420:Johns & Waygood
351:Premier of Victoria
273:Country Roads Board
199:King Street Bridge,
69: /
1163:Swan Street Bridge
1103:King Street Bridge
1055:Evan Walker Bridge
858:The Canberra Times
591:"Melbourne Casino"
565:"Melway Edition 1"
269:
261:
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25:King Street Bridge
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1180:Warrandyte Bridge
1000:Burke Road Bridge
932:Media related to
885:May 1961 page 103
333:City of Melbourne
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1189:West Gate Bridge
1148:Seafarers Bridge
1143:Sandridge Bridge
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64:144°57′29.0″E
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1098:Kanes Bridge
995:Bolte Bridge
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569:the original
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258:Crown Casino
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231:Crown Casino
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219:Crown Casino
203:Kings Bridge
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61:37°49′19.5″S
39:Crown Casino
15:
1184:Webb Bridge
354:Henry Bolte
285:Yarra River
281:Yarra River
211:Yarra River
207:King Street
129:Followed by
119:Preceded by
103:Yarra River
93:King Street
76: /
51:Coordinates
1209:Categories
898:circa 1967
688:Herald Sun
551:References
530:Freyssinet
463:Izod tests
179:1961-04-12
984:Melbourne
617:Kim Dovey
545:Bruce Day
516:Bruce Day
467:ductility
215:Melbourne
209:over the
41:from the
865:23 April
798:23 April
425:H&R
418:J&W
360:Collapse
277:VicRoads
205:carries
187:Location
142:Designer
113:VicRoads
791:The Age
694:17 June
666:17 June
638:17 June
601:17 June
575:17 June
275:(later
240:History
177: (
137:History
99:Crosses
89:Carries
629:
440:Design
172:Opened
18:Bridge
661:(PDF)
867:2017
800:2017
696:2008
668:2008
640:2008
627:ISBN
603:2008
577:2008
465:for
323:and
291:and
271:The
197:The
982:in
433:BHP
213:in
166:BHP
1211::
942:,
914:,
855:.
837:.
826:^
816:.
788:.
770:.
746:^
736:.
725:^
715:.
704:^
686:.
648:^
593:.
543:.
339:.
307:.
301:A£
972:e
965:t
958:v
698:.
670:.
642:.
605:.
579:.
181:)
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