Feasibility Report on Design and Construction of Bridge in

the State of Meghalaya

After visits to the various bridge sites, scrutiny of a few bridge detailed project reports (DPRs)
and interaction with the consultants and PWD officials, the observations are:
1. Alignment and location of the bridge is fixed by the Department due to the Government
priority to give connectivity to identified roads and villages. However, carriageway
width can be decided based on IRC criteria for bridge on VR, ODR, MDR or SH.
2. No hydraulic and geotechnical studies are made which are important to decide linear
waterway, depth of scour at abutments and piers, (if any) and afflux to decide level of
bridge, High Level or Low Level. Further, geotechnical studies help in deciding type
and depth of foundations. In the absence of detailed realistic investigations failure of
abutments/piers may occurred as in the case of Shella Bridge
3. Provisions of climate resilience are missing during planning and design of bridges.
Meghalaya falls in severest Zone V of Earthquake Map, hence, features viz. seismic
restrainers/blocks and ductile detailing as per IRC 6-2017 becomes necessary. In last
few decades, due to climate change, frequency and intensity of landslides and floods
also have increased.
4. Non availability of good aggregate for the construction of RCC bridge. The
transportation cost becomes enormous to bring the material from the quarries to the
construction sites due to long leads.
5. Due to longer heavy rainy season in Meghalaya, available construction period is six
months in a year, only.
6. Supervision during construction and maintenance afterwards are negligible.
Way Forward Possible Solutions for the Planning, Design and Construction of Bridges in the
state of Meghalaya:
1. As the population and traffic is very low to give connectivity to the villages or
commercial places in Meghalaya, it is proposed that carriage width shall be fixed as per
IRC SP 20-2002 guidelines, as given below:

Width For Clear width between kerbs For existing

of VR & bridges,
Bridge ODR Through roads: 5.50 m widening may
Link roads: 4.25 m be undertaken at
the time of
Notes: replacing the old
(i) If the link road carries traffic more than 100 and distressed
motorized vehicles per day, the width of bridge bridges unless
may be 5.50 m. there is evidence
(ii) The design of bridge where width is kept as of safety hazard.
4.25 m should be such as can be widened easily
later.
 (iii) Cautionary sign posts of narrow bridge Need to provide
should be provided on all bridges having width cautionary sign
as 4.25 m. posts.

For Through Roads: 7.5 m Same as above

MDR Link Roads: 6.0 m
& SH

2. Site Selection:

S. No. Item Description

Site As per IRC 5 Section I -2015 and IRC SP 13-2004
Selection
Various alternative sites considered should be discussed
critically with their merits and demerits and finally details of
selected alignment be included.

Reference should be given to the authority approving the site,

and site inspections if any, carried out by the approving
authority.

3. Detailed Investigations:
Upon finalisation of alignment and bridge site, detailed investigations are carried out
with respect to topographic survey, hydraulic, geological, geotechnical investigations
and environmental impact assessment.
S. Items Description
No.
1. Topographical Details of the topographic surveys carried out, and
Survey reference to the Bench mark used for conducting the
survey should be given.

As far as possible, for survey of major bridges, modern

survey equipment should be used such as
• Total Station
• Remote Sensing
• Any Other Modern Precision Technique, with the
approval of Engineer-in-charge.
2. Geological It helps in selection of type of bridge superstructure and
Survey Data protection works

This data may be collected by the Consultant’s Geologist

or from the State/Other Agencies. It includes type of
geology of site/area, type of rocks, jointed/stratified,
fragileness etc.
3. Climate Change This data may be available with the State Irrigation
Data and/or Meteorological Department. It includes frequency
and intensity of rainfalls, earthquakes, floods etc.
 4. Hydraulic Data (As per IRC 5-2015 and IRC SP 13-2004 Articles 3-12)
for Detailed
Hydraulic Design The hydraulic data shall be collected. These include:
and Other • Catchment area from Toposheets or Survey and
Parameters Sub- nature of catchment
soil Investigation • Rainfall intensity
• River bed slope and LWC slope
• LWL
• HFL
• Cross-sectional area of the stream
The hydraulic calculations in support of the design
discharge and waterway should be given. These shall
include:
• Discharge by various methods, and the
justification for selection of constants in different
formulae
• Design discharge adopted with justification
• Waterway required for different considerations
and waterway adopted.
• Scour calculations and the determination of
foundation depth.
• Calculation of Afflux to be provided.

5. Geotechnical On finalisation of layout, it is necessary to carry out a

Investigation/data detailed sub-soil investigation based on the actual layout.
It is at this stage that the requirement of various tests to
be conducted as well as their location at site becomes
evident.

At least one bore hole on each foundation location should

be made in case of major bridges. When founding strata
is rock, the number of bore holes may be suitably
increased depending upon the dip of rocky strata. The
number of bore holes in case of minor bridges may be
decided in consultation with the employer. The tests
should provide adequate information required to carry out
engineering design. Sub-soil investigation should be
carried out as per IRC: 78-2014 and relevant IS Codes or
as decided by the concerned departments.

4. Selection of Type of Bridge to Suit Conditions of Meghalaya (Climatic conditions,

Scarcity of Construction Materials etc.)

After detailed investigations have been completed, selection of type of bridge, its
detailed design philosophy of various components and construction methodology
becomes important to suit the site conditions at feasibility stage.

In many Hill states in last two decades, temperature rise, frequency and intensity of
rainfalls, floods have increased due to climate change. Hence, in such conditions pre-
cast culverts and high-level bridge (RCC Solid Slab for < 15 m spans, RCC T Beam
Slab for 15 m & 20 m spans and PSC Girder with RCC Slab for > 20 m Spans) or steel
bridge are constructed, generally. Based on detailed design, working drawings are
required to be prepared.

Constructability of structure has to be considered in the design stage. Special care may
be taken to examine easy concreting in case of RCC and PSC structure by avoiding
congestion of reinforcement and proper dimensioning. In the state of Meghalaya, to
design and construct a bridge on rural roads, availability of aggregate and its
transportation cost at actual construction site, transportation of machinery, high seismic
zone, occurrence of frequent landslides and floods, regular maintenance of some
vulnerable bridge components viz. bearings and expansion joints, spots, weep-holes
etc. become deciding factors. Hence, in such conditions,

 Precast RCC Box Culverts and Prefab Steel Bridges with simple shapes and
spans should be preferred. The Precast RCC and Prefab Steel construction has
many advantages viz, saving in valuable construction period as the work of Pre-
casting RCC and fabrication of steel components can be continued even in rainy
season and quality of components of culvert/bridge can be inspected and
ensured at the workshop/yard before transporting to the actual site. Due to
controlled quality of precast/prefab construction durability of bridge structure
will be more.
 To minimize maintenance of bearings and expansion joints, construction of
continuous bridge shall be considered in case of design and construction of
longer length of bridge.

The design philosophy for bridge shall be followed is given below:

S. Components Description Procedure/Latest IRC Codes /
No. Specifications
1 Superstructure Detailed design of Innovative materials and design should
superstructure is to be preferred to achieve durability,
be carried out construction time. Hence, latest
using the most Standard Proven Bridge Engineering
appropriate Software may be used. Loads and
methods. design shall be based on latest
Computer aided IRC/BIS/International codes,
methods of preferably using
analysis may be (i) As per IRC 6-2017: Loads and
used but care Stresses
should be taken in (a)For Culvert/bridge less than 5.3 m
the modelling of width, one lane of Class A considered
the structure and to occupy 2.3 m. The remaining width
interpretation of of carriageway shall be loaded with
the results. Results 500 kg/m2
so obtained should (b)For culvert/bridge more than 5.3 m
preferably be width, one lane of Class 70R loading
checked by other or two lane of Class A loading
(ii) Structural Design shall be based on
 simpler methods (a) IRC:122-2017 ‘Guidelines for the
wherever relevant. Construction of Precast Concrete
Segmental Box Culverts’.
(b) IRC SP:13-2004 ‘Guidelines for the
Design of Small Bridges & Culverts –
First Revision’.
(c) IRC 112-2011 ‘Code of Practice for
Concrete Road Bridges’.
(d) IRC 24-2010 ‘Code of Practice for
Road Bridges, Steel Road bridge (Limit
State Design)- Third revision
(e) IRC:22-2015 ‘Code of Practice for
Road Bridges, Section VI, Composite
Construction (Limit State Design)-
Third revision.

2. Substructure Detailed design of Design of substructure include

substructure will elements like pier, abutment, wing
be carried out in walls, pier cap, abutment cap, pedestals
accordance with etc.
the hydraulic and Detailed design of substructure shall be
structural carried out in accordance to
requirement. In (a) IRC 6-2017: Loads and Stresses
addition, as the (b) IRC 78-2014 ‘Code of Practice for
substructure is one Road Bridges, Section VII,
of the two 'visible Foundations & Substructures –
parts of the Revised revision.’
crossing. Its (c) IRC 112-2011 ‘Code of Practice for
aesthetics require Concrete Road Bridges’.
special (d) IRC SP:13-2004 ‘Guidelines for the
consideration. Design of Small Bridges & Culverts –
First Revision’.

3. Foundation The type and size The detailed design should be carried
of foundations out following the guidelines given in:
depends on the soil (a) IRC 6-2017: Loads and Stresses
conditions and (b) IRC 78-2014 ‘Standard
river flow pattern Specifications and Code of Practice for
as determined Road Bridges, Section VII, Foundations
from the & Substructures – Revised revision.’
investigations. (c) IRC 112-2011 ‘Code of Practice for
Concrete Road Bridges’.
(d) IRC SP:13-2004 ‘Guidelines for the
Design of Small Bridges & Culverts –
First Revision’.

In case of well foundation, well

diameter, steining thickness, curb
details, cutting edge details, bottom
plug, sand filling, top plug, well cap,
 curtain walls, floor protection works
etc. should be given.

In case of pile foundation, type of pile

(precast/ cast in situ), bored or driven.
material of pile, pile-length, pile
diameter, pile cap. pile cut-off level,
nature of stratum, pile capacity, pile test
requirement etc. should be given.

Generally, in hard rocky area, the

bearing capacity is more than 30 T/m2,
hence Open Raft Foundation is
preferred.

4. Bearings The type of The detailed design of bearing is carried

bearings is out depending upon the type of
dependent on the superstructure, support condition and
structural system bearing type in accordance to
for the
superstructure and IRC:83-2015 (Part-I) Standard
the support Specifications and Code of Practice for
conditions Road Bridges, Section IX, Bearings,
Part I: Roller & Rocker Bearings –
Second revision.

IRC:83-2015 (Part-I) Standard

Specifications and Code of Practice for
Road Bridges, Section IX, Bearings,
Part II: Elastomeric Bearings – Second
revision.

IRC:83-2002 (Part-I) Standard

Specifications and Code of Practice for
Road Bridges, Section IX, Bearings,
Part III: POT, POT-CUM-PTFE, PIN
and Metallic guide Bearings

5. Bearing Details of Design shall be in accordance to

Pedestals, expansion joints,
Jacking Pads, railing, wearing Ministry of Road Transport &
Seismic coat and other Highways Specifications for Road and
Blocks/ appurtenances Bridge Works, 5th Revision, 2013.
Restrainers, should be given.
Expansion MoRD Specifications & Manual for
Joints, Railing, Rural Roads-2014
Wearing Coat
and other IRC SP:69-2011 Guidelines for
Appurtenances Expansion Joints in Bridges
 IRC 6-2017 Loads and Stresses

IRC 112-2011 ‘Code of Practice for

Concrete Road Bridges’

6. Approaches, Detailed drawings Design and drawing shall be in

river of approach slab, accordance to
protection, embankment, river
river training protection and IRC:89-2015’Guidelines for design and
works, etc. training works Construction of River Training and
(where provided) Control Works for Road Bridges (Ist
should also be Revision)
given.
Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways Specifications for Road and
Bridge Works, 5th Revision, 2013.

MoRD Specifications & Manual for

Rural Roads-2014