In a procedure opened this Thursday, with a fund limit of 107 million lek, the ARRSH estimates that this project for the Milot Bridge came after an on-site investigation by a consultant, who determined its condition and the need for intervention.
The Albanian Road Authority plans to carry out an intervention on the Milot Bridge, considered an emergency and specifically related to the protection of the foundations. In a procedure opened this Thursday, with a limited fund of 107 million lek, the ARRSH estimates that this project came after an on-site investigation by a consultant, who determined its condition and the need for intervention. The bridge is currently in the middle of the lifespan of works of this nature; the intervention provides for increased safety.
ARRSH estimates that the foundations of the bridge are in a very damaged condition.
"For this reason, we suggest that, as an emergency measure, the bridge should undergo works according to the following descriptions, to ensure its longevity with limited loads, as it is today, for a period of up to (5÷10) years" - the document states.
The documents highlight in more detail the specific problems observed in the bridge's foundations.
Among the main problems observed is the problem of the foundations, which have almost come to the surface, due to the general erosion of the river bed.
The average depth of general and local erosion ranges from (3÷5) m.
"The continued uncontrolled extraction of gravel from the river is the main cause of this situation, a phenomenon that also appears in the recently built bridges over this river," the ARA document states.
Among the works planned to be carried out are:
Cleaning the area around the piles (32 piles) and leveling the bed around them;
Concreting of foundation piles to a height of (1.5÷2.5) m, judging by the case (protection of damaged piles and depth of erosion);
Reinforcement and protection of the pile foundation and face from local erosion through the creation of a carpet of interconnected gabion blocks, as shown in the project.
The Milot Bridge is located on the Milot–Lezhë road axis, over the Mat River, on the Milot–Lezhë national road, SH1. The project for the construction of the bridge is dated 24.04.1979, drafted by the Design Institute No. 2, and was part of the “Laç–Shkodër–Kufi” Project (Railway and automobile bridge over the Mat River)./Monitor
