FCC Construcción

This draw bridge stands between the Poniente wharf and the Adosado wharf at Barcelona Harbour. It is a two-leaf steel bascule bridge. The free span of the navigation channel measures 100 metres between piers, while the span between ball-and-socket joints is 109 metres. The 54.5-metre free-standing projecting end makes this bridge a world record-holder in its class. The piers, on a pilot foundation, are made of reinforced concrete, with some local pre-tensioning so that they can withstand the forces exerted by the main jacks. The bridge is reached by two concrete viaducts that lead to the level of the deck, situated 20 metres above sea level. Not only the deck of this bridge but also its primary piers can be considered unique; they all harmonize and work together to form a nigh-sculptural assemblage.

The greatest complexity in this structure stems from the fact of blending the regular civil works techniques (a concrete structure on the piers and a metal structure on the deck) with mechanism techniques, where construction tolerances are very strict.

Each of the two leaves of the bridge deck is 68.5 metres long: 14 metres long from the rear, where the counterweight is hung, to the joints; and 54.5 metres of projecting end, from the joints to the centre of the span. The total width on the ground plan is as much as 18 metres, due to the outward inclination of the deck's edge beams. The deck width is 15.1 metres.

The bascule leaves are moved by two huge jacks on each span, whose job it is to raise the bridge from its closed or duty position (by pulling on it) or closing it from its open or parked position (by pushing the deck back into place).

The bridge was assembled using one of the biggest floating cranes in the world, able to lift the 2,100 tons that each span weighed.

The project to build this structure was implemented by the Special Works Service, of FCC Construcción's Technical Services.