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Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering >> 2011, Volume 5, Issue 4 doi: 10.1007/s11709-011-0130-x

The Rion-Antirion bridge—when a dream becomes reality

6-8 Avenue Blaise Pascal Cité Descartes, 77455 Champs-sur-Marne Marne la Vallée cedex 2 Paris, France

Available online: 2011-12-05

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Abstract

Opened to traffic in August 2004, the Rion-Antirion Bridge crosses the Gulf of Corinth near Patras in western Greece. It consists of an impressive multi cable-stayed span bridge connected to the land by two approaches. An exceptional combination of physical conditions made this project quite unusual: high water depth, deep strata of weak soil, strong seismic activity and fault displacements. In addition a risk of heavy ship collision had to be taken into account. The structure has been designed in view of challenging severe earthquakes and ensuring the everyday serviceability of the link as well. To make the bridge feasible, innovative techniques had to be developed: The strength of the in situ soil has been improved by means of inclusions; the bridge deck has been suspended on its full length, and therefore isolated as much as it can be.

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