Our contribution to the bridge over the river Guà: evocative metal structure

the work

The bridge structure is arch shaped with a lower deck, stabilised in the transverse direction by a series of metal frames.

The new bridge weighs approximately 136 tonnes, has a net length of approximately 33 metres and a width of 13.40 metres. It accommodates a roadway with two 3.25 metre lanes. We are located between Montorso and Montecchio Maggiore, on one of the main roads connecting municipalities and production areas, crossed daily by residents and workers in the western Vicenza area.

The bridge structure is arch shaped with a lower deck, stabilised in the transverse direction by a series of metal frames. The static scheme is that of buttress stringers, carried by edge arches with the thrust removed by tie rods. The 2 load-bearing arches have a key height of 5m and are inclined with respect to the vertical plane by 25°.

The transversal metal frames are in the form of an inverted gable with a horizontal crossbeam and pillars of varying height sloping outwards to follow the outline of the arches.

These elements perform the dual function of “hanging” the road deck from the arches and stabilising the arches themselves due to inflection-instability phenomena in the transverse plane.

The launch

The lifting operations of the new metal bridge, built on the right bank of the Guà river, took place with two crane trucks, the main one positioned on the right bank with a capacity of 800 tonnes and the second one with a capacity of 400 tonnes on the left bank of the river.

On 13/05/2022, the bridge was officially inaugurated by the president of the province.