Izmailovsky bridge construction

The Izmailovsky Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge located in Moscow, Russia, that spans the Moskva River. The bridge connects the Izmailovo district to the city center and is a major transportation artery in the city. Here's an overview of the bridge's construction:

Design and Planning

The Izmailovsky Bridge was designed by the Russian engineering company, Mostotrest, in collaboration with the German company, Hochtief. The bridge was planned to be a cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 240 meters (787 feet) and a total length of 1,100 meters (3,609 feet).

Construction

The construction of the Izmailovsky Bridge began in 2004 and took approximately 5 years to complete. The bridge was built using a combination of traditional construction methods and innovative technologies. The main construction techniques used were:

  1. Cable-stayed design: The bridge features a cable-stayed design, where cables are suspended from the bridge's towers to the roadway.
  2. Precast concrete segments: The bridge's roadway was constructed using precast concrete segments, which were assembled on-site.
  3. Cable installation: The cables were installed using a specialized crane, which lifted the cables into place and secured them to the bridge's towers.

Challenges

The construction of the Izmailovsky Bridge presented several challenges, including:

  1. River crossing: The bridge had to be built over the Moskva River, which required specialized equipment and techniques to ensure the bridge's stability and safety.
  2. Urban environment: The bridge was built in a densely populated urban area, which required careful planning and execution to minimize disruptions to traffic and local residents.
  3. Weather conditions: The Russian climate can be harsh, with cold winters and hot summers, which required the construction team to adapt to changing weather conditions.

Opening

The Izmailovsky Bridge was officially opened on December 15, 2009. The bridge was designed to accommodate up to 40,000 vehicles per day and has since become a major transportation artery in Moscow.

Interesting Facts

  1. The Izmailovsky Bridge is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Europe.
  2. The bridge's towers are 120 meters (394 feet) tall, making them some of the tallest in the world.
  3. The bridge's roadway is 32 meters (105 feet) wide, allowing for multiple lanes of traffic in each direction.
  4. The bridge's construction required over 100,000 cubic meters (35,315,000 cubic feet) of concrete and over 10,000 tons of steel.

Overall, the Izmailovsky Bridge is an impressive engineering feat that has improved transportation in Moscow and provided a new connection between the city center and the Izmailovo district.