Centennial Bridge

The Spanish Ministry of Transports initially commissioned TYLin, in a joint venture, to carry out the preliminary and detailed design of the cable replacement and related widening of the cable-stayed Centenario Bridge. We were subsequently awarded the contract to provide technical assistance for the ongoing construction management. To be completed in 2025, the project will enhance overall structural safety. 

Spanning the Guadalquivir River, an essential navigable waterway, the existing Centenario Bridge is a precast concrete, cable-stayed road bridge with progressive damage in the original stays. The bridge's total length is 565 meters, with a 265-meter-long main span and a 22-meter-wide deck.  

The main challenge is replacing the 88 stay cables without interrupting roadway traffic. The bridge carries over 100,000 vehicles per day. The solution is to arrange new steel ribs under the existing precast concrete deck, where they can be lifted from both the ground and a river barge without disrupting traffic flow. The new steel ribs also become the elements receiving the new stay cables. Using this method, the new stay cables will be installed before removing the old ones.  

The cross section of the existing pylons will be widened by a new steel or steel-concrete composite box section connected to the existing pylons, conforming to a composite section. The new box sections connect with the replacement stay cables. 

Project Highlights

• The new stay cables have a triple barrier against harsh weather conditions and are inspectable at both anchorages.  

• The replacement cables can be widened using more strands during a more extensive future widening operation. 

• For the foundations, new footings are arranged over the existing pile caps, and local soil improvement treatments are being performed under the existing foundations. 

• The project is being completed by IDEAM, S.A., now doing business as TYLin.