31.05.2018.
Remedy of the pedestrian path at the upstream bridge structure side completed upon applying of the anti-skid system, which simultaneously provided a proper waterproofing, surface roughness and durability to the pavement. Technical documents development started in March last year, and upon provision of required approvals and changes in traffic operation, dismantling of the pedestrian path steel structure commenced in mid-August 2017. Mid traffic lane was put into operation in early December 2017, and the bus lane was put into operation in February this year.
Remedy primarily included the replacement of the steel cantilevers. New cantilevers were installed, and the safety fence was dismantled, remedied, and raised up to the height of 1.2m to provide safety for the cyclists frequently using Branko’s Bridge. In addition, inspection gentries moving along the pedestrian path and serving for maintenance of the external parts of the Bridge were serviced as well. About 350 tons of new elements was imbedded, and all of the steel and accompanying material meet the applicable standards. New pedestrian/bicycle path has been adequately waterproofed and covered by anti-slip surface to improve the safety.
In 2014, state of the pedestrian path was analysed and it has been found that steel cantilevers and concrete slabs were heavily damaged and cannot be repaired through regular maintenance, but it required development of pedestrian path remedy design. The design provided replacement of steel cantilevers, placed in-between the bridge piers, supporting the pedestrian path and the safety fence, as well as replacement of curbs between the path and the carriageway.
Branko’s Bridge was rebuilt in 1956 on the piers of the former King Alexander Bridge, which was destroyed in the World War II. Since the city was rapidly developing on the left bank of the Sava River between 1974 and 1978, new bridge structure having the same silhouette and static system as the existing one was constructed on the downstream side of the bridge. In that way, Belgrade got a modern bridge with three lanes in each direction.
27.10.2017.
Dismantling completed: pedestrian guard rail, safety fence, curb supports, pedestrian path concrete slabs, curbs, installations and decorative lighting.
Dismantled pedestrian guard rail and safety fence repair and new cathodic protection on-going.
Newly designed dilatations currently under construction.
Some 198 cantilever beams installed.
Pedestrian path structure currently under construction – 130 m completed out of a total of 435m.
Damaged parts of the existing cantilever beams under cutting for replacement.
06.10.2017.
Placing and welding of bridge structure confiners completed in the length of 215 meters.
About 333 m of curbs and 408 m of curb supports dismantled.
Another two scaffoldings needed for works between cantilevers currently under preparation.
New pedestrian path cantilever beams currently under construction.
Sand blasting and anti-corrosive protection to the tin that will remain at pier S2 on-going.
15.09.2017.
Welding of New Belgrade side bridge structure confiners commenced.
Safety fence completely dismantled.
Inspection trolley under the bridge structure dismantled.
About 400 m of pedestrian guard rail dismantled.
All concrete slabs removed except for those above Karadjordjeva Street.
About 180 m of curbs and 140 m of curb supports dismantled.
Suspended scaffolds and protective scaffolds at left and right river bank installed.
Auxiliary scaffolding needed for works between cantilevers is currently being constructed.
Pedestrian and safety fence handed over to the Contractor for repair.
24.08.2017.
Some 480 m of metal safety fence separating carriageway and pedestrian path removed.
Removal of pedestrian guard rail to be repaired by Contractor on-going.
Construction of suspended scaffold for under-bridge construction on-going.
Pedestrian path concrete slabs dismantle on-going.
Branko’s Bridge Traffic Closure
Branko’s Bridge traffic closure due to construction will commence on Wednesday, August 16, at 9:00 a.m. Passenger cars coming from the direction of New Belgrade to the city centre will be diverted to the lane designated for faster traffic (left lane) on the downstream bridge structure, while taxi vehicles and public transport vehicles will be using the lane designated for faster traffic on the upstream bridge structure. This lane will serve as a “transit (bus) lane” during the daytime, while at night, between 1:00 and 4:00 a.m., it will be closed and all vehicles from the direction of New Belgrade to the city centre will be using only the faster traffic lane on the downstream bridge structure. Traffic out of Brankova Street towards New Belgrade will be operational all the time via two lanes on the downstream bridge structure. Traffic management signals have already been installed to provide full traffic management both at day and night.
All citizens crossing Branko’s Bridge during construction period need to be patient, since different construction technology or different traffic management scheme would result in even longer traffic closure and higher city budget expenditures.
Traffic management scheme to be applied during construction is needed for replacement of the steel cantilevers below the bridge pedestrian path, which true condition may be determined only after removal of each steel cantilever. Cantilevers must be installed by cranes that needs space for manoeuvre. Therefore two upstream side lanes must be closed for traffic in order to provide both safe construction and undisturbed traffic flow, while at night, the entire upstream structure must be closed for traffic. Furthermore, this will provide the conditions for completion of the Works within Time for Completion scheduled for the end of the year. Belgrade Land Development Public Agency is doing its best to ensure that the Works are performed in the midst of the construction season and to put the sidewalk that has been out of function for many years now into operation, while the Contractor will introduce night shifts for certain works. The value of the Works is RSD 210 million.
Contractor will install new steel cantilevers and curbs, while the bridge fence will be dismantled, repaired and installed back and raised up to 1.2 m to provide safe bicycle traffic for cyclists widely using the Bridge. In addition, inspection trolley moving along the walkways and serving for maintenance of the external parts of the bridge will be repaired. About 400 tons of new steel structures will be constructed. Steel and other materials to be installed meet the applied standards. New pedestrian and bicycle paths will be modern and with waterproofing and anti-slip surface to increase the safety level.
Three years ago, a detailed bridge bicycle and pedestrian path analysis was made and found out that bridge steel structure and concrete slab were heavily damaged and could not be repaired via regular maintenance but through an upstream bridge structure bicycle path redevelopment design. The design provided for replacement of steel cantilevers supporting the bicycle path and bridge fence in the length of 432 m and curbs between the pedestrian path and the carriageway.
Branko’s Bridge was rebuilt in 1956 on the piers of the former King Alexander Bridge, which was destroyed in the World War II. Since the city was developing on the left bank of the Sava River, a new structure, which had the same silhouette and static system, was built on the downstream side of the bridge in the period between 1974 and 1978. In this way, Belgrade has got a modern bridge with three lanes in each direction. However, after 40 years of service, the time has come to rebuild the pedestrian paths on the upstream bridge structure.
