The Braila Bridge in Romania, built by Webuild in an international joint venture, is rapidly approaching its inaugural day. This impressive structure will be the second-longest suspension bridge in continental Europe. Static and dynamic load tests have been successfully conducted to verify the bridge’s stability before its official opening.
The first series of tests involved up to 60 trucks, weighing 2,400 tonnes, to ensure the soundness of the structure. Dynamic load testing followed, with two trucks crossing the entire bridge at 80 kilometres per hour to assess its vibrations. High-precision instruments were employed to monitor the tests in real time.
The Braila Bridge was commissioned by the Romanian state company CNAIR on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure. It is similar in design to the planned Bridge over the Strait of Messina, albeit shorter in length. It spans 1,975 metres, with a main deck of 1,120 metres. The bridge will accommodate four lanes, an emergency lane, and dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths.
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Braila Bridge Project Scope
A highly challenging and innovative project, the Braila Bridge was constructed in collaboration with Japanese partner IHI Infrastructure Systems Co Ltd. It crosses the Danube River in the Galati-Braila region. Thus, it significantly reduces travel times for approximately 7,000 vehicles that previously relied on ferry service.
Over the past two years, the construction of the Braila Bridge has involved complex and visually stunning work. In the first year, workers raised and positioned the bridge’s two supporting cables, consisting of over 18,000 interwoven steel fibres (more than 9,000 for each line) with a combined weight of 6,775 tonnes. Last summer witnessed the challenging task of raising the bridge’s steel deck, involving the installation of 86 sections, each weighing 260 tonnes. The construction team developed a specific method to lift and set each section into place.
Webuild, with its extensive track record, has constructed over 1,000 kilometres of bridges and viaducts. This is equivalent to the distance between Paris and Berlin. Notable projects include the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge in Italy, completed in just over a year. The company also built the Third Bridge over the Bosphorus River in Turkey.
