Basic reinstatement of a bridge, Germany

A basic reinstatement was necessary due to structural defects and insufficient maintenance measures.

Features of the building structure:
Spans: 2x60/28.5/3x60 = 328,50 m
Bridge class: 60/30
Width of carriageway: 6.00 m
Width of cycle track: 2.10 m
Bridge surface: 3284.00 m²
Foundation: caissons
Substructures: box-type reinforced-concrete abutment, massive reinforced-concrete disks
Superstructures: diagonal lattic with orthotropic slab
Bascule bridge: trough bridge (Scherzer system) with low-lying balance weight, riveted steel plate girders, orthotropic steel slab
Construction time: 19.05.1998 - 23.09.1999

10 km east of the town Anklam the highway B 110 leading to Usedom island runs over a bridge crossing the southern part of the river Peene near Zecherin. The bridge named "Usedomer Bäderbrücke bei Zecherin" (bridge leading to Usedom seaside resorts) had been opened on 22th May 1931. It had required only one year of construction and 1.85 Mio Reichsmark which was the national currency at that time. It was the second stationary crossing of the river Peene between Usedom island and the mainland. The 328 m long bridge over the national waterway Peenestrom spans over the southern river part, which is 450 m wide in this place, by means of five lattice spans of about 60 m each and a bascule bridge of 20.60 m. KBP's investigation revealed that a basic reinstatement was necessary due to structural defects and insufficient maintenance measures. Construction work was carried out on the basis of an offer submitted as an alternative to the tender provisions. It comprised the complete replacement of the old superstructures by new diagonal lattice superstructures with orthotropic slab. The decisive advantages of this solution were:

• a theoretical service life of the lattice superstructures of 80 years at comparatively low additional cost
• the bridge class is improved to 60/30 and the clear height is now unlimited
• the sidewalk was widened to 2.10 m, except for the location of the bascule mechanism
• a structurally corrosion-protected design of the superstructure makes the pains-taking corrosion protection of the old riveted profiles unnecessary
• a lower load on foundation and substructures by reduced weight
• a reduction of construction time by 3 months

During the complete closing of the road a ferry service was established between berths that were built especially for this purpose. It served for medical emergencies, for school-pupils' transportation and for maintaining public passenger traffic.