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The Servia High Bridge ( el, Υψηλή Γέφυρα Σερβίων, translit=Ypsili Gefyra Servion) is one of the longest bridges in
infrastructuResilience
it was found that ageing, environmental stressors and increase in the traffic loads on the bridge potentially led to safety issues. Amid these concerns, traffic restrictions were enforced on the bridge. These preventive measures aimed to reduce the maximum load on the bridge and included banning vehicles heavier than 50 tonnes and reducing the vehicle speed limit to 40 kilometers per hour. Professor Mitoulis noted following the inspection of the bridge that there were “''vertical displacements on some of the bridge spans that are visible''” and that “''central simply supported segments of the deck are not well connected to the balanced cantilevers of the deck and hence there is a risk of falling''.” Professor Mitoulis also explained that the simply supported spans need to be connected to the balanced
File:aliakmonas bridge.jpg , The bridge of Polyphytos lake.
File:Polyfytos lake.jpg , Polyphytos lake.
The Servia High Bridge ( el, Υψηλή Γέφυρα Σερβίων, translit=Ypsili Gefyra Servion) is one of the longest bridges in Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
, with a length of 1,372 m. Construction began in 1972 along with the artificial lake and was completed in 1975.
Designed by Riccardo Morandi
Riccardo Morandi visiting Palace of Justice Competition.
Riccardo Morandi (1 September 1902 – 25 December 1989) was an Italian civil engineer best known for his innovative use of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, although over the ...
, was constructed from a joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and economic risk, risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four rea ...
Xekte SA–Skapaneus SA.
The bridge is a part of the GR-3/ E65 (Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
- Lamia
LaMia Corporation S.R.L., operating as LaMia (short for ''Línea Aérea Mérida Internacional de Aviación''), was a Bolivian charter airline headquartered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, as an EcoJet subsidiary. It had its origins from the failed ...
- Larissa - Kozani
Kozani ( el, Κοζάνη, ) is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of Western Macedonia. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley. The city lies above sea ...
- Florina
Florina ( el, Φλώρινα, ''Flórina''; known also by some alternative names) is a town and municipality in the mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'.
The town of Florina is the capital of the F ...
) and is located 15 km southeast of the city of Kozani
Kozani ( el, Κοζάνη, ) is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of Western Macedonia. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley. The city lies above sea ...
and 5 km northwest of Servia. It is one of the two bridges of the lake; the other is the Rymnios Bridge to the southwest near Aiani
Aiani ( el, Αιανή, before 1926: Καλλιανή - ''Kalliani'') is a town and a former municipality in the Kozani regional unit, Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kozani, of which it is ...
and is smaller, with 615 m length.
Structural issues raised in 2020
In January 2020, and after visual inspections conducted by professor Stergios Mitoulis oinfrastructuResilience
it was found that ageing, environmental stressors and increase in the traffic loads on the bridge potentially led to safety issues. Amid these concerns, traffic restrictions were enforced on the bridge. These preventive measures aimed to reduce the maximum load on the bridge and included banning vehicles heavier than 50 tonnes and reducing the vehicle speed limit to 40 kilometers per hour. Professor Mitoulis noted following the inspection of the bridge that there were “''vertical displacements on some of the bridge spans that are visible''” and that “''central simply supported segments of the deck are not well connected to the balanced cantilevers of the deck and hence there is a risk of falling''.” Professor Mitoulis also explained that the simply supported spans need to be connected to the balanced
cantilevers
A cantilever is a rigid structural element that extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it extends from a flat vertical surface such as a wall, to which it must be firmly attached. Like other structural elements, a canti ...
, whilst the movement of the latter seems to be the main issue that needs urgently addressing. Further studies included a recent publication
The bridge had been inspected in the past from the relevant ministry in 1995 after the Kozani
Kozani ( el, Κοζάνη, ) is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of Western Macedonia. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley. The city lies above sea ...
earthquake, and again in 2012.
Gallery
References
Road bridges in Greece Kozani (regional unit) Bridges completed in 1975 Bridges in Western Macedonia {{Greece-bridge-struct-stub