Maslenica Bridge (A1)
Encyclopedia
Maslenica Bridge is a 377.6 m (1,238.8 ft) long reinforced concrete
arch bridge
spanning Maslenica Strait of the Adriatic Sea
, north of Zadar
, Croatia
, carrying the Croatian A1 motorway
. It is located between the Maslenica
and Posedarje
interchanges of the A1 motorway.
The bridge comprises a 200 metres (656.2 ft) span reinforced concrete arch, with an arch rise of 65 metres (213.3 ft). The arch comprises a box cross section, a double cell of constant depth. The superstructure is continuous across 12 spans, consisting of prestressed girders made monolithic with the in situ cast deck slab and transverse girders.
The bridge is maintained and operated by Croatian Motorways Ltd.
Approximately 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) to the south, there is another bridge, carrying D8 state road
across the same strait, and this was the original crossing point over the strait. Although that is a completely different structure, carrying a different road, that bridge is also officially called Maslenica Bridge
. The bridge carrying the A1 motorway is actually older than the one carrying the D8 road, however since the latter is a replacement for a bridge destroyed in the Croatian War of Independence
in 1991, both A1 and D8 bridges are known to be referred to as both old and new Maslenica Bridge.
, Split
, between 1993 and 1996, using free cantilevering with temporary cable-stays. The reinforced-concrete arch was executed in 5 m (16.4 ft) long segments, matching spandrel column spacing. Prefabricated girders required for the structure were executed and prestressed in a purpose built plant on the site. The same plant was subsequently used to produce Jersey barrier
s used as bridge protective barriers.
The bridge is significant as it is the first motorway reinforced-concrete arch bridge comprising a substantial span executed in Croatia.
Subsequently wind protection structures have been executed along the motorway section comprising the Maslenica Bridge, since the 15 km (9.3 mi) long section was completely closed to traffic due to strong wind from time to time - for a total of 6 days and 19 hours in 2007, and 13 days and 2 hours in 2006.
. Substantial variations between annual (AADT) and summer (ASDT) traffic volumes are attributed to the fact that the bridge carries substantial tourist traffic to the Dalmatian
Adriatic resorts. The traffic count is performed using analysis of motorway toll ticket sales.
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
arch bridge
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
spanning Maslenica Strait of the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, north of Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, carrying the Croatian A1 motorway
A1 (Croatia)
The A1 motorway is the longest motorway in Croatia spanning . As it connects Zagreb, the nation's capital, to Split, the second largest city in the country and the largest city in Dalmatia, the motorway represents a major north–south transportation corridor in Croatia and a significant part of the...
. It is located between the Maslenica
Maslenica
Maslenica is a port and village in Zadar County, Dalmatia, Croatia.Its geographical coordinates are 44°13'N, 15°32'E. It is situated in Novigrad Sea, the gulf of Novigrad. Waters are quite clear due to the Zrmanja river which flows into this gulf.- History :...
and Posedarje
Posedarje
Posedarje is a municipality in Zadar County of Croatia with 3,513 inhabitants....
interchanges of the A1 motorway.
The bridge comprises a 200 metres (656.2 ft) span reinforced concrete arch, with an arch rise of 65 metres (213.3 ft). The arch comprises a box cross section, a double cell of constant depth. The superstructure is continuous across 12 spans, consisting of prestressed girders made monolithic with the in situ cast deck slab and transverse girders.
The bridge is maintained and operated by Croatian Motorways Ltd.
Approximately 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) to the south, there is another bridge, carrying D8 state road
D8 (Croatia)
D8 state road comprises Croatian section of Adriatic Highway, and it runs from Pasjak border crossing to Slovenia via Rijeka, Senj, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Opuzen and Dubrovnik to the border with Montenegro at Karasovići. Most of the D8 state road is still a two-lane road, excepting rare four-lane...
across the same strait, and this was the original crossing point over the strait. Although that is a completely different structure, carrying a different road, that bridge is also officially called Maslenica Bridge
Maslenica Bridge (D8)
The Maslenica Bridge is a deck arch bridge carrying the D8 state road approximately to the west of the settlement of Maslenica, Croatia and south of the D54 and D8 state roads junction.- Structure :...
. The bridge carrying the A1 motorway is actually older than the one carrying the D8 road, however since the latter is a replacement for a bridge destroyed in the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
in 1991, both A1 and D8 bridges are known to be referred to as both old and new Maslenica Bridge.
Construction
The bridge was designed by Jure Radić, and built by KonstruktorKonstruktor
Konstruktor inženjering d.d. is a Croatian construction company founded in 1945 as "Konstruktor-Split" in Split, Yugoslavia ....
, Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, between 1993 and 1996, using free cantilevering with temporary cable-stays. The reinforced-concrete arch was executed in 5 m (16.4 ft) long segments, matching spandrel column spacing. Prefabricated girders required for the structure were executed and prestressed in a purpose built plant on the site. The same plant was subsequently used to produce Jersey barrier
Jersey barrier
A Jersey barrier or Jersey wall is a modular concrete barrier employed to separate lanes of traffic. It is designed to both minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing crossover in the case of head-on accidents....
s used as bridge protective barriers.
The bridge is significant as it is the first motorway reinforced-concrete arch bridge comprising a substantial span executed in Croatia.
Subsequently wind protection structures have been executed along the motorway section comprising the Maslenica Bridge, since the 15 km (9.3 mi) long section was completely closed to traffic due to strong wind from time to time - for a total of 6 days and 19 hours in 2007, and 13 days and 2 hours in 2006.
Traffic volume
Traffic is regularly counted and reported by Hrvatske autoceste, operator of the bridge and the A1 motorway where the bridge is located, and published by Hrvatske cesteHrvatske ceste
Hrvatske ceste is a Croatian state-owned company pursuant to provisions of the Croatian Public Roads Act , the county and local roads are managed by county authorities, while the motorways are managed by Croatian Motorways Ltd and other concessionaires.The company is currently administered by a...
. Substantial variations between annual (AADT) and summer (ASDT) traffic volumes are attributed to the fact that the bridge carries substantial tourist traffic to the Dalmatian
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
Adriatic resorts. The traffic count is performed using analysis of motorway toll ticket sales.
| Maslenica Bridge traffic volume | ||||
| Road | Counting site | AADT | ASDT | Notes |
| A1 | 4805 Maslenica south | 12,677 | 32,411 | Between Maslenica and Posedarje interchanges. |