Bridge to Russky Island in Vladivostok

Bridge Construction to Russky Island

Overview of the Bridge Project

• The bridge to Russky Island is part of a federal program aimed at developing Vladivostok as a center for international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. This infrastructure will connect the mainland with island areas, enhancing transportation in the Primorsky region.

Unique Dimensions and Specifications

• The bridge boasts impressive dimensions: it stands 70 meters above water, with a central span exceeding 1,100 meters. It aims to break world records with pylons reaching 320 meters high and stay cables extending 580 meters long. Construction began in September 2008 and is set for completion by the APEC summit in Vladivostok in 2012.

Environmental Challenges

• The Eastern Bosphorus Strait presents significant environmental challenges: it is about 1.5 kilometers wide, experiences wind speeds up to 36 m/s, storm waves up to 6 meters high, and ice thickness can reach up to 70 centimeters during winter months where temperatures drop below -30 degrees Celsius. Summer temperatures can rise as high as +37 degrees Celsius.

Construction Facilities and Operations

• Production facilities have been established on Ben Azima Peninsula and Moose Keala for efficient construction operations, including workshops for rebar welding, building inspections, mechanical woodworking, equipment repair, offices, living quarters, and canteens. State-of-the-art concrete mixing plants are utilized alongside over 1,300 meters of new railway tracks built for timely material delivery.

Material Testing and Equipment Utilization

Bridge Construction Techniques

Reinforcement and Formwork

• High-grade concrete is used for the bottom part of the structure, providing heavier reinforcement due to its higher density compared to ordinary concrete.

• Custom-made self-climbing formwork is employed to erect pylons in sections of 4.5 meters, significantly reducing erection time by a factor of 1.5.

Structural Design and Testing

• The cable-stayed span structure features an aerodynamic profile designed to withstand squally wind loads; this was validated through wind tunnel testing.

• The navigation span's stiffening girder is constructed as a box with orthotropic plates, supporting the roadway and consisting of 103 panels that weigh a total of 23,000 tonnes.

Installation Process

• Panels are preassembled at a production facility on Nasima Peninsula and delivered via barges, lifted by cranes to an elevation of 76 meters using GLONASS for positioning.

• Continuous spans utilize pre-stressed reinforced concrete with plastic ducts installed alongside rebars; high tensile prestressing steel bundles are tensioned post-concreting.

Cable Support System

• Stay cable supports made from low alloy steel pipes are installed parallel to reinforcement work; these supports have specific dimensions and weight characteristics.

• A compact cable configuration reduces wind load by 25% to 30%, leading to significant material cost savings for pylon components.

Durability and Visitor Interest

• Stay cables consist of multiple strands with protective jackets made from high-pressure polyethylene, ensuring durability with a design service life of at least 100 years.