The muiderbrug - extending the life time by strengthening the structure

Title: The muiderbrug - extending the life time by strengthening the structure
Author(s): Hans Dorsman
Paper category : conference
Book title: 2nd International Symposium on Service Life Design for Infrastructures
Editor(s): K. van Breugel, Guang Ye, Yong Yuan
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-096-7
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-097-4
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2010
Pages: 1101 - 1109
Total Pages: 9
Nb references: 1
Language: English

Abstract: The Muiderbrug (Muider bridge) is one of many steel bridges of which Rijkswaterstaat (Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works) has concluded that it did not comply to today's requirements anymore. Since 1970 traffic has grown in size and volume and hence the bridge had to be strengthened to fulfil the requirements and to extend the service life time.
Simultaneously it was decided that the bridge would get dedicated rush hour lanes in order to improve traffic flow.
To fulfil the wishes, the bridge was elevated 20 cm at both pillars, while the abutments remained at the original position. Subsequently the bridge was lifted 35 cm more at the middle of the bridge by connecting a cable stayed construction supported by 70 m high pylons at the middle of the bridge.
The first phase, the jacking up at the pillars, has been executed without interfering with the traffic. The second phase has been executed end of June 2009 after the pylons were erected and the cables were installed partly.
To enable the execution of the second phase, 2 pylons have been built. End of June 2009 the cables were stressed to lift the bridge to its final position. During the stressing of the cables, the bridge was closed once completely for 12 hours.
By completion of the works the life time of the bridge has been increased by transforming a steel girder bridge into a cable stayed bridge. Moreover this has been achieved while interference with the ongoing traffic was reduced to virtually zero.

Online publication: 2011-04-20
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00