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Nossa Senhora da Guia Bridge in Ponte de Lima

• Location: Ponte de Lima, Portugal
• Solution: Bridges, Asset Management
• Type: Road bridges, Rehabilitation
• Promoter: Infraestruturas de Portugal SA (ex Estradas de Portugal, EPE)
• Client: Infraestruturas de Portugal SA (ex Estradas de Portugal, EPE)
• Scope: Reinforcement and Rehabilitation Design, Inspection, Safety Assessment, Anomaly Mapping, Materials Testing, Geotechnical and Hydraulic Studies
• Project: 2009/ 2010
• Construction: 2011/ 2012
• Photography: Infraestruturas de Portugal SA
• Contractor: OBRECOL – Obras e Construções SA
• Dimension: 250m long, 58m max span
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The bridge of Nossa Senhora da Guia is located on the national road EN201, in Ponte de Lima, and its deck corresponds to a continuous box girder element, with five symmetrical spans of variable height, using reinforced and prestressed concrete, supported on columns and abutments also in reinforced concrete.

The deck is materialised through a box girder section with three webs, of variable height, and was one of the first bridges to be executed using the cantilever method.

Based on inspections carried out to identify and locate anomalies, as well as on structural evaluations carried out, rehabilitation and reinforcement procedures were recommended. FRP elements were bonded to the underside of the upper slab, and the longitudinal behaviour of the deck was improved by applying longitudinal prestressing cables to the deck. Elastomeric bearings were also redistributed in respect to its horizontal stiffness and hydraulic dampers were installed to improve its seismic behaviour.

Rehabilitation work was also carried out, such as local repairs and general painting of the structure. The roadway was also completely rehabilitated.