Bearing replaced on UK road bridge

Elastomeric bearings replaced to increase bridge’s safety and lifespan.

US$1 million study to improve bridge joint reinforcement

US researchers explore hooked and headed reinforcement.

High-speed replacement

An intricate choreography of marine transportation and lifting methodology facilitated the seamless replacement of bearings in a Spanish rail link – and all the while maintaining high-speed traffic, discovers Eve Boykova

Smooth first pour

The ninth longest suspension bridge in the USA is being rehabilitated using the largest deployment of UHPC anywhere in the Americas. Khalifa Bokhammas reports on progress so far

Safety concerns force sudden closure of Nigerian bridge

The Nigerian state of Lagos as closed part of Eko Bridge on safety grounds.

A stitch in time

An unusual lifting operation over a freeway used by over a million vehicles per day gave engineers cause to scratch their heads when a deck section refused to shift, reports José María Sánchez de Muniáin.

Oklahoma plans to raise levels of nine highway bridges

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the USA has awarded an engineering contract for a project to increase the clearance under nine highway bridges by raising their decks.

Force of nature

A new railway line in Algeria passes through an area of maximum earthquake risk. Bassem Ben Hamadi and Charles Cynober explain how protection for the main viaducts was designed

Primary repairs completed following Nipigon Bridge bolt failures

The primary temporary repair system has now been installed and tested at the Nipigon River Bridge.

Canada’s research council to investigate Nipigon River Bridge problems

Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation has brought in the National Research Council of Canada to help determine the cause of last week’s major mechanical failure at the new Nipigon River Bridge.

Eighth world congress on joints, bearings and seismic systems

Making connections

A major structural intervention which is currently under way will change the articulation of one of the world’s largest suspension bridges. John Collins, Richard Hornby, Peter Hill and John Cooper report.

Alert issued over tension cable and rod connectors

The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) has issued an alert on tension cable and rod connectors after reports on a number of failures.

Romanian route

A new road link in Bucharest, Romania, has been designed with full seismic isolation. Paolo Scotti and Mauro Sartori report

Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards 2011

Size no object

Manufacturers of expansion joints are putting great efforts into developing systems to cope with the world's ever-lengthening bridge stock, say Gianni Moor and Colm O'Suilleabhain

Steep challenge

Refurbishment of a tourist railway in the Kalavrita valley has required engineers in Greece to come up with some imaginative solutions. Narrow and restricted access, steep slopes and historic structures made the contract, to replace bridge bearings and improve the seismic response of the structures on the line, particularly challenging.

Minneapolis bridge was identified as fatigue risk

The I-35 highway bridge in Minneapolis which collapsed on 1 August killing at least nine people and injuring more than 60 was identified as being at risk of fatigue failure as far back as 2001. An evaluation of the bridge deck carried out by researchers at the University of Minnesota on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Transportation found that the bridge truss had 'many poor fatigue details' on the main truss and floor truss system.

Barge brings down section of Jiujiang Bridge

Nine people have been reported missing following the collapse of a 200m-long section of the Jiujiang Bridge which crosses the Pearl River in China's Guangdong province.

Atkins wins Forth Road Bridge role

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority has announced that Atkins is to provide consultancy services for bearing and joint replacement on Scotland's Forth Bridge.