New bridge over shipping channel across the Spit to be opened on Friday
A new bridge over the Vistula Spit shipping channel under construction will be put into use on Friday, the investor, the Maritime Office in Gdynia, told PAP. It is one of two bridges that the inhabitants and tourists will cross when visiting towns from Krynica Morska to Stegna.
In Nowy Swiat near Kąty Rybackie on the Vistula Spit a navigation channel connecting the Gdansk Bay with the Vistula Lagoon is under construction. The canal will shorten the current waterway from the Gulf of Gdansk to the Vistula Lagoon, which now runs through the Pilawa Strait.
Work is underway across the entire width of the Spit from both the sea and the Lagoon. Contrary to fears, the construction is not impeding motor traffic along provincial road 501 linking Stegna with Krynica Morska. On Friday, in accordance with the investor’s announcements, one of the two bridges over the constructed shipping channel, the Southern Bridge, will be put into use. Tourists visiting towns on the Spit will be able to drive over it while watching the construction of the new waterway up close.
The Maritime Office in Gdynia and the investment contractor NDI/Besix have provided detailed information concerning the bridge. As reported, it is one of the longest revolving structures of its kind in Poland. Its total length is over 60 metres, the weight of the steel structure together with the counterweight is approx. 550-560 tonnes. It is interesting that in spite of such a specific construction and mass, it has been balanced as to kilograms.
The length of the bridge including expansion joints is 61.15 m and the width is 17.20 m. It has two spans. It has a load class A. The weight of the steel structure of the superstructure is 373 tonnes and the weight of the counterweight is 160 tonnes. It was founded on prefabricated piles.
Interesting features include the fact that the bridge rotates on the P2 support on a lenticular bearing, the rotary actuators of the bridge weigh 4 tonnes each. The bridge was balanced taking into account all weights, even the pavement on the roadways and pavements. The balancing was carried out according to a special procedure, under the supervision of special equipment, and with an accuracy of kilograms.
Ultimately, there will be two rotating bridges over the shipping channel, opened alternately. Thanks to these facilities, drivers will not be stuck in traffic jams waiting for a ship to pass through the shipping channel.
The total length of the new waterway from the Gulf of Gdansk through the Vistula Lagoon to Elblag is nearly 23 km, of which approx. 2.5 km is the section that will include the lock and external port as well as the berth. The canal and the entire waterway will be 5 m deep.
rel. Portal Morski
