The Solution

Due to the emergency caused by the collapse, an analysis and diagnose phase was undertaken, which led to the conclusion hand in hand with ADIF of the need of replacing the existing Bridge by a new structure to increase its resilience against future climate impacts. Looking for a fast recovery of the railway operation, the project of this new bridge started just a few weeks before the initiation of the construction activities. Despite the complications of 2020, it was possible to complete the project, its construction and recover the operation in a record period of altogether just 8 months; thanks to the combined contribution of ADIF, Grupo Puentes as construction company, INECO and INES.

The new bridge over the Tordera River has got 221.30 m total length, distributed in five (5) spans (33.15 m + 51 m + 51 m + 51 m + 33.15 m). The post-tensioned concrete deck has a U-shaped cross section with two large lateral beams with variable depth rising above the platform in the shape of sails. The considerable reduction in the number of piers compared to the original bridge, added to the increase in the gauge of the deck over the channel, has significantly increased the bridge hydraulic capacity to meet the requirements towards future avenues of the Todera River marked by the local water management administration.

The piers, in turn, are pier-pile type (2 piles per pier). Their foundations reach a depth of 40 m, while the bridge deck rests on the opposite side over the piers head. This solution seeks eliminating future scoring problems that the original bridge had, avoiding at the same time excavations under the water table level for building a hypothetical pile cap, what enabled speeding up the construction process.