The Cala Galdana Bridge is a steel

arch bridge An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ...

over Algendar Creek on the island of

Menorca Menorca or Minorca (from la, Insula Minor, , smaller island, later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Its capi ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It is the first vehicular bridge constructed in duplex

stainless steel Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's corros ...

. In 2003 its owner (the Consell Insular de Menorca) decided to replace the existing structurally deficient,

reinforced concrete Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and ferroconcrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having hig ...

bridge due to severe corrosion (due to the marine environment) and

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in one of its supports. The total length of the bridge is , and its main span is long.

Description

The bridge consists of two parallel arches with a free span of and an intermediate deck. The arches rise to a total of with a span-rise ratio of 7:5, and attach to the deck with two connected longitudinal beams. The arches have a triangular cross-section, with a central

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. Their depth is , constant through their length; the width of each section varies between .7 and 1 meter. The longitudinal beams are rectangular hollow sections 1 x .5 meters and plates with varying thicknesses between and . In the central zone (with the arch above the deck) the beams have a central web connected to the web of the arch, allowing transfer of the vertical load of the longitudinal beam to the arch. Two struts (connecting the base of each of the arches and the end of the longitudinal beam) avoid horizontal reaction on the abutments. The main structure weighs and is made of duplex stainless steel with a grade of 1.4462, which exhibits a high resistance to corrosion by chlorides. The deck is made of reinforced concrete, connected to a series of transverse beams. It was completed at a cost of Є2.6 million.

Construction

Construction was begun by

Ferrovial Ferrovial, S.A. (), previously Grupo Ferrovial, is a Spanish multinational company involved in the design, construction, financing, operation (DBFO) and maintenance of transport infrastructure and urban services. It is a publicly traded company ...

in October 2004 (with demolition of the existing bridge), and completed in early June 2005.

References

External links

* * {{coord, 39.9396186, 3.9589771, display=title, type:landmark_region:ES-PM Arch bridges Steel bridges in Spain