Repair of two Connecting Bridges from Villeneuve to Avignon with DYWIDAG Systems

In Avignon in southern France, two identical bridges that were built between 1973 and 1975 connect the towns of Villeneuve and Avignon across the Rhône River. The two bridges were no longer able to cope with the significantly increased traffic volume of 55,000 vehicles per day. Consequently, both bridges had to be reinforced using external DYWIDAG Strand Tendons, external DYWIDAG Bar Tendons and unbonded DYWIDAG Bar Tendons.

The bending load capacity of each bridge was increased by installing six 209m long external Type 19-0.62", Grade Y1860S7 DYWIDAG Strand Tendons into each box girder. The DYWIDAG Strand Tendons are located on the left and right hand side at the bottom of the hollow box girders. The tendons are protected by PE ducts and are injected with hot wax in order to achieve permanent corrosion protection.

The bridges were strengthened by cross girders in the areas of the anchorages and deviations of the external DYWIDAG Strand Tendons. The cross girders were prestressed against the box girders using DYWIDAG Bar Tendons.

Additionally, prestressed DYWIDAG Bar Tendons were installed in some areas to increase the shear force by means of a steel structure underneath the bridge. DSI developed optimized anchorage plates and caps in accordance with ETA-05/0123 specifically for this project.

To reinforce both bridges, DSI supplied a total of 416 1.76 to 1.90m long Ø 36mm WR steel DYWIDAG Bar Tendons, 1,008 2.10 to 4.40m long Ø 26mm WR steel DYWIDAG Bar Tendons as well as 400 5.10 to 5.40m long Ø 32mm WR steel DYWIDAG Bar Tendons.