Maslenica Bridge (A1)

Maslenica Bridge (Croatian: Most Maslenica,[1] but also known as Croatian: Maslenički most) is a 377.6 m (1,239 ft) long reinforced concrete arch bridge spanning the Novsko Ždrilo 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.[2]

Maslenica Bridge
Coordinates44°14′12″N 15°31′20″E
CarriesA1 motorway
CrossesMaslenica Strait (Adriatic Sea)
LocaleSouthern Croatia
Official nameMost Maslenica
Maintained byCroatian Motorways Ltd
Characteristics
Designconcrete arch bridge
Total length377.6 m
Width20.4 m
Longest span200 m
Clearance below65 m
History
Opened1997
Statistics
Tollcharged as a part of A1 motorway toll
Location

The bridge comprises a 200-metre (660 ft) span reinforced concrete arch, with an arch rise of 65 metres (213 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.[3]

The bridge is maintained and operated by Croatian Motorways Ltd.

Approximately 1.5 km (0.93 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.[4] Although that is a completely different structure, carrying a different road, that bridge is also officially called Maslenica Bridge.[5] 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.[5][6][7]

Construction
Both Maslenica bridges (The bridge carrying the A1 motorway is visible in the background)

The bridge was designed by Jure Radić, and built by Konstruktor, Split, between 1993 and 1996, using free cantilevering with temporary cable-stays. The reinforced-concrete arch was executed in 5 m (16 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 barriers used as bridge protective barriers.[8]

The bridge is significant as it is the first motorway reinforced-concrete arch bridge comprising a substantial span executed in Croatia.[9]

On 21 December 1998 the speed of a gust of wind on the Maslenica Bridge was measured at a record speed of 248 kilometres per hour.[10][11]

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.[12][13]

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 ceste.[14] 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.

Maslenica Bridge traffic volume
Road Counting site AADT ASDT Notes
A1 4805 Maslenica south 12,677 32,411 Between Maslenica and Posedarje interchanges.

See also

References
  1. "Zagreb - Split Motorway (pp. 6-7)" (PDF). Croatian Motorways Ltd (in Croatian). July 18, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2005.
  2. "Regulation on motorway markings, chainage, interchange/exit/rest area numbers and names". Narodne novine (in Croatian). May 6, 2003.
  3. "HAC Monografija". Croatian Motorways Ltd (in Croatian). May 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010.
  4. "Decision on categorization of public roads as state roads, county roads and local roads". Narodne novine (in Croatian). February 17, 2010.
  5. "New Maslenica Bridge open". Gradimo.hr (in Croatian). June 20, 2005.
  6. "New old bridge against wind and congestion" (PDF). Vjesnik (in Croatian). October 4, 2002.
  7. Milivoj Đilas (2 October 2002). "Povratak starog Masleničkog mosta" [Return of the old Maslenica Bridge]. Nacional (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  8. "Konstruktor - Maslenica Bridge". Konstruktor (in Croatian). June 16, 2010.
  9. "Motorway bridge near Maslenica". Gradimo (in Croatian). January 1, 2007.
  10. A. Bajić, B. Peroš, V. Vučetić, Z. Žibrat, Wind load - a meteorological basis for Croatian standards, GRAĐEVINAR 53 (2001), page 501, (in Croatian); http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/18613
  11. Radic, Jure; Savor, Zlatko; Puz, Goran (23 March 2018). "Report: Extreme Wind and Salt Influence on Adriatic Bridges". Structural Engineering International. 13 (4): 242–245. doi:10.2749/101686603777964487.
  12. "Maslenica Bridge gets wind protection". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). January 29, 2008. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  13. Sesar, Petar; Krecak, Ana (1 January 2005). "Impact of wind on Croatian highways and bridges". IABSE Symposium Report. 90 (11): 23–29. doi:10.2749/222137805796270469.
  14. "Traffic counting on the roadways of Croatia in 2009 - digest" (PDF). Hrvatske Ceste. May 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011.
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