Gilgel Abay Bridge Technical Report Summary
Project: Tana Beles Project - Part 2
Location: Bahar Dar-Kunzila Road, Ethiopia (ch. 26.700)
Client: Ministry of Construction, People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Designer: Studio Pietrangeli, Rome
Report Date: December 1987
1. Project Overview
The Gilgel Abay Bridge is a critical infrastructure component along the Bahar Dar-Kunzila Road in Ethiopia. The final design features a steel-concrete composite structure with three spans (28m-45m-28m) and a total length of 101 meters.
2. Bridge Description
2.1 Selected Design Solution
The chosen design (Solution 1 from five alternatives considered) features:
- Two longitudinal steel girders with variable height
- Concrete deck slab with precast elements
- Resting girder statical scheme
- CORTEN steel requiring no anti-oxidation protection
2.2 Key Components
Component | Description |
---|---|
Bridge Deck | Steel-concrete composite structure with precast slabs, 7.5m width |
Piers (2) | Founded on Ø1200mm bored piles reaching basaltic layer, 1m thick walls |
Abutments | Classic type with front/side walls on Ø1200mm piles |
Road Embankment | Rockfill from basalt quarries with geotextile separation layer |
3. Technical Comparisons
Five structural solutions were evaluated before selecting the current design:
Solution | Type | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|
1 (Selected) | Steel beams 3×32m | Cost-effective, minimal river obstruction, short construction time | Requires beam launching equipment, some maintenance needed |
2 | Continuous steel beams | Reduced steel quantity, fewer expansion joints | Complex pretensioning required after concrete hardening |
3 | Precast concrete beams | Combines concrete and steel advantages | Requires specialized precast technology |
4 | RC continuous beams | Immediate start, standard technology | High cement use, formwork challenges |
5 | RC frame | Minimum maintenance | Piers exceptionally loaded with bending movements |
4. Key Technical Aspects
4.1 Geological Conditions
The bridge site features basaltic lava flows with weathered layers. Foundations were designed as bored piles reaching the continuous B3 basalt layer at 8-15m depth due to:
- High compressibility of clayey paleosols
- Variable thickness of shallow basalt layers
- Heterogeneous weathered basalt
4.2 Hydraulic Design
Key hydraulic parameters:
- Design flood: Q = 2500 m³/s (100-year return period)
- Bridge intrados elevation: 1806.25 m a.s.l.
- Backwater effect: ~50 cm
- River slope: 0.3 m/km
4.3 Structural Design
The structural design includes comprehensive stability calculations for:
- Steel girders and connections
- Concrete deck slab
- Piers and abutments
- Bearings and expansion joints
5. Construction Features
- Girders divided into max 15.4m sections for transport
- Precast concrete slabs used as permanent formwork
- Provisional supports during girder placement
- Dust-proof bearings requiring no maintenance
6. Annexes
The report includes numerous detailed annexes with:
- Technical drawings (general layout, structural details, etc.)
- Geological maps and borehole logs
- Detailed calculation tables
- Construction specifications
Conclusion: The Gilgel Abay Bridge design represents a comprehensive engineering solution that balances technical requirements, constructability, and economic considerations for this important river crossing in Ethiopia.