07/2018

The Arzabalza Bridge, built in the 1940s, spans the Oria River in the municipality of Tolosa, Gipuzkoa (Spain). The bridge is part of the National Road N-I carriageway heading towards Irun.
This skewed bridge is 64 m long and has 16m long spans. The piers are made of masonry and the deck is composed of reinforced concrete beams.
The retrofitting works awarded by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council to ORION will improve the safety of the bridge, which is currently crossed by 36.000 vehicles every day. The works include a reinforcement of the concrete beams by means of strips of carbon fiber to increase its bending capacity, the substitution of the railing system for a metallic barrier as well as other actions to enhance the durability of the structure.
Renovation works have recently started and they are expected to last 10 weeks. Planning includes keeping current car flow on the two lanes of the bridge. As an exception, works that require the closure of one lane will take place during the night or the weekends. FHECOR’s role includes the elaboration of the retrofitting and reinforcement projects.