1. Danube Bridge Vidin – Calafat
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Danube Bridge Vidin – Calafat
Integrating Bulgaria into Europe

2. The bridge links Vidin (Bulgaria) and Calafat (Romania)
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
The bridge links Vidin (Bulgaria) and Calafat (Romania)

3. This corridor is essential to link Bulgaria to Central Europe
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
This corridor is essential to link Bulgaria to Central Europe
The Bridge itself is vital for the economy of the region of Vidin, currently hidden in a corner of the Bulgarian map and isolated from the rest of Europe by the Danube

4. Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Main features
4 lanes motorway + single track railway + bike & pedestrians lane
Total length: 1391 m (main bridge) m (railway approach)
Maximum deck width: m
Maximum span: 3 x 180 m over the navigable channel
Highest point over average Danube level: 54 m

5. Cross section – Navigable Channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Cross section – Navigable Channel

6. Cross section – Non-navigable Channel &Railway approach span
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Cross section – Non-navigable Channel &Railway approach span

7. Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
TECHNICAL MILESTONES
FOUNDATION made of Ø 2 m bored piles up to 80 m deep
Main bridge deck core made up of PRECAST SEGMENTS
EXTRADOSSED deck in the navigable channel
Pile test on Romanian Bank, June 2009

8. FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
Rigs placed on floating pontoons
18 m steel cases inserted 3 m deep in the clay layer
Up to 80 m pile depth required state-of-the art equipment to be mobilized
Pile caps 40 x 13 m cast on precast slabs welded to steel cases, supported on 24 piles

9. FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel

10. FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
24 piles Ø 2 m per pier
Up to 80 m pile depth required state-of-the art equipment to be mobilized
Pile caps 40 x 13 m cast on precast slabs welded to steel cases
Special vessel impact protection precast elements

11. FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
FOUNDATION in Navigable Channel

12. Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
PRECAST SEGMENTS
Deck core is divided in pieces (segments) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
Segments are precast at a precast yard
No longitudinal rebars. Segments are joint together by means of prestressing cables
Side deck cantilevers are either precast or cast in situ in a second stage

13. PRECAST SEGMENTS Non-navigable channel Navigable channel 2.15 m long
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
PRECAST SEGMENTS
Non-navigable channel
2.15 m long
70 to 90 Tons
Navigable channel
4.19 m long
240 Tons

14. PRECAST SEGMENTS at the precast yard
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
PRECAST SEGMENTS at the precast yard
Every new segment is cast against the previous one to ensure perfect fitting
Extremely low tolerances require high accuracy equipment

15. Segments erection in non-navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Segments erection in non-navigable channel
Sequence of erection by means of a launching girder

16. Segments erection in non-navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Segments erection in non-navigable channel
By means of a movable launching girder

17. Segment erection in navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Segment erection in navigable channel
Segments in the midlle of span
Segments close to pier

18. Segment erection in navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Segment erection in navigable channel

19. Precast segments advantages
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
Precast segments advantages
Prefabricated construction allows improved quality of the deck
Quicker deck construction due to 4 simultaneous precast lines segments = 480 m erected in 150 days
Competitive cost

20. EXTRADOSSED DECK in navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
EXTRADOSSED DECK in navigable channel
Extradossed cables contribute to prestressing
No need for high pylons
Cheaper than other solutions (i.e. cable stayed deck)

21. EXTRADOSSED DECK in navigable channel
Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
EXTRADOSSED DECK in navigable channel
State-of-the-art extradossed system BBR Hiex Cona

22. Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications
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