Rama III Expressway | Bangkok, Thailand

Constructing The Future with Cast-In-Place Concrete

Bangkok, Thailand

Transforming Thailand’s Infrastructure and Economy

The Rama III Expressway is a six-lane, 12-mile (19.3 km) elevated expressway that will link with the under-construction intercity motorway No. 82 (M82) to form a crucial route from Bangkok to Thailand’s western and southern regions. Scheduled for completion in 2024, this project, valued at 30 billion baht ($820 mil), will include extensive infrastructure elements such as on and off-ramps, bridges, and tolling facilities to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance connectivity and spur economic development. Buriram Thongchai Construction Ltd was awarded the contract to construct a three-mile (4.8 km) section from Central Rama III to the Dao Khanog intersection.

PLATE GIRDER for Flexibility and Cost Savings

Buriram Thongchai Construction Ltd selected EFCO’s PLATE GIRDER® system to tackle the project’s unique challenges. Using the self-spanning PLATE GIRDER system, the contractor combined two spans of about 75’ (23m) each, which were lifted and placed separately on opposite sides of the road for the 17 crossbeams. The PLATE GIRDER was used as a platform, with E-BEAM & SUPER STUD® serving as the formwork for the cap. This method allowed for the flexibility to meet the project’s tight construction timeline while complying with the city’s requirement to keep three traffic lanes operational during the day and only allow lane closures between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM. As a result, most of the lifting, placing, and removal of the PLATE GIRDER formwork was carried out overnight. The innovative PLATE GIRDER allowed for the cycling of forms between all crossbeams with the same equipment and configuration, reducing the time needed to strip and pour concrete for each cycle. By choosing EFCO over a precast solution, the contractor achieved significant cost savings on molds, transportation, lifting, and time.

Optimized Support with Shoring Tower for Tight Spaces

To provide extra support for the crossbeams and allow a vertical clearance of 16 (5m) for traffic, EFCO utilized PLATE GIRDER in a shoring tower application. These towers are specifically designed for situations with limited footprint space where more commonly used EFCO HDS-100 shoring towers are not feasible. The PLATE GIRDER shoring towers were positioned alongside each column, and each tower effectively supported 444 kN (1,000 lb) of the crossbeam. The PLATE GIRDER is frequently recognized for it’s capacity to span great distances without shoring support. However, it also made for a distinctive choice as a shoring tower in this situation.

Why Buriram Thongchai Construction Ltd chose EFCO

EFCO’s cast-in-place solutions offer numerous benefits, including enhanced efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The ability to pre-assemble the PLATE GIRDER spanning system on the ground and then fly the formwork into position by crane not only accelerated erection but also ensured a safer working environment. This method reduced the cycle time for stripping and reassembling formwork, which allowed Buriram Thongchai Construction to move swiftly between crossbeams with minimal downtime. EFCO’s exceptional service was evident in the hands-on support provided by the field service team, which worked closely with the Buriram Thongchai Construction Ltd team to navigate the site’s constraints and optimize equipment usage.