Resistance of the Peljesac Bridge
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Published: 31.10.2021.
The Pelješac Bridge with its 2404 meters encircled the Mali Ston Bay and connected Croatia and its construction is nearing completion. The commissioning depends on the dynamics of the construction of access roads, most of which will be completed according to the plan, by the beginning of the summer of 2022, which would put the 24 km section into operation.
First, asphalting began from the middle of the bridge to the mainland. This is a special asphalt that is applied to the bridge in a special way and by hand. In addition to being strong and resistant, the layer of asphalt is also an insulator that will not let water from the pavement into the interior of the bridge. This is the so-called cast asphalt, special in its resistance and durability, so the ravages of time on the Peljesac Bridge, despite the intense traffic that is expected and the salt, will not be able to do anything. Asphalt is a Croatian product from a nearby asphalt base on the Dubrovnik coast. The bridge should be paved by the end of November.
After the asphalting, the fence on the bridge will be installed for protection against wind, painted with anti-corrosion coating, traffic signals will be drawn, and lighting will be installed by the end of this year.
Although the south of Croatia is one of the most seismic areas in the country where the maximum intensity of earthquakes ranges from 6.3 to 7 degrees Richter and there are several faults near the Peljesac Bridge, the bridge structure is designed and constructed to withstand earthquakes without collapse.
Apart from the fact that the Peljesac Bridge is located in an extremely seismic area, there are frequent and strong winds. The analysis predicts wind gusts of as much as 180 km / h. Along the entire length of the bridge on both sides, there will be windbreaks 3.2 meters high, which are a guarantee that the traffic will run smoothly in almost all weather conditions up to a wind speed of 180 km / h.
Piles, ie huge steel pipes whose length is from 36 to 130.9 meters, were used for the foundation of columns located in the sea. For comparison, the height of the Zagreb Cathedral is 108 meters. The pilots were driven into the seabed, and the 130.9-meter pilot is a world record holder because he is the greatest ever to be driven into a piece.
In addition to earthquakes and wind, the design of the bridge had to take into account its navigable profile, and the one 200 meters wide and 55 meters high was adopted, which guarantees that even the largest ships can pass under the bridge.
As it seems now, the Peljesac Bridge should be resistant to all challenges from traffic density, weather conditions to natural disasters.
