This bridge is a part of the construction project of the Béznar-Vélez stretch of the Granada-Motril road, in an area of uneven topography over the Tablate riverbed. Moreover, this is an area of high seismic hazard. A composite structure was adopted for the project, with a steel arch and composite deck, in order to span 149 m. The construction process is described below: After placing the foundation blocks, the instalment of the two box girders begins, using four supporting scaffoldings (stage 1). At the same time, the two girder arches are braced with transverse beams in order to guarantee the bridge’s lateral stability(stage 2); the construction advances in free cantilevers until the arch is closed (stages 3 and 4). After dismantling the scaffolding, the installation of the steel truss advances from the abutments; the two horizontal Ibeams of variable depth are linked by transverse reinforced concrete beams (stage 5). The process ends with the construction of the 25 cm thick upper deck; this is achieved by placing 7 cmthick precast pre-slabs (stage 6), then casting the deck (stage 7) and, finally, laying the pavement and finish.
• Cross section. • General view of the finished bridge (© copyright: Ana Muller). • Stages of the construction process. • Views of the construction process (stage 5), the arch has been closed and the steel lattice mounting of the deck is about to be finished. (©: Ana Muller).
THE TABLATE BRIDGE ROAD A-44. BÉZNAR-VÉLEZ DE BENAUDALLA STRECHT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Granada, 1994-1995