SOLUTIONS FOR THE BRIDGE OVER MURES

The bridge over river Mures, built in 1912, has been significantly deteriorated both during the second world war, and over time, by natural disasters.
According to Government Decision 753 of September 16, 1999, capital repairs were started at this bridge near Arad, on the Timisoara - Arad railroad, km 53 + 543, in order to reopen railway traffic, interrupted after the natural calamities of 1998.
The CFR-SA National Railways Company, in cooperation with the Railway Design and Research Institute (ISPCF) as the designer, and the Railway Constructions Central (CCCF), the executor, have found viable solutions for the reconstruction of the bridge.
Since the bridge is a very old construction, five years ago the railway control authorities have discovered cracks in the main load-bearing elements of the metal plates, and consolidation works were ordered but, in 1998, due to the floods, the condition of the bridge worsened further, and traffic was closed. The final conclusion was that the structure necessitated capital repairs: replacement of five metal plates, consolidation of other elements, and complete restoration of pole no. 1.
Specialists of the ISPCF have drafted a project that was authorized by the CFR-SA Technical-Economical Council, and the CCCF started the main preparation works.
Following are the major steps in the capital repair effort.
The new tables will have a metal structure. The load-bearing elements will be welded, and the connecting rods bolted together with high-resilience screws. The openings will remain unchanged. The metal elements of the plates will need sanding, grounding and painting before being fitted into place. All these operations will be carried out on a plateau that will be built in parallel with the bridge. The jointing elements between portions of a plate will require special attention.
Before the infrastructure repairs, the Mures river bed will be cleared of debris, dropped there on purpose, in order to create a dam. There are reports that the river bed still contains elements of the old plates after the World War II bombardments. During the repairs, infrastructure will be completely torn down at pole no. 1, which has a superficial foundation, and the other elements will be consolidated and redone.
Once infrastructure works are completed, the new plates will be introduced - already mounted on the plateau built in parallel with the bridge - on specially constructed supports, and working tests will start.
The additional works are also important. An inferior passage will be created for road traffic and three passages for pedestrians along the bridge. In order to reduce train traffic noise, noise absorbent panels will be installed on either side of the railroad.
CFR-SA, ISPCF and CCCF specialists predict these works will be completed by the end of next year.

Oana Bran