Optimising selection of critical bridge components - the bearings and expansion joints of the Viaducto Puerto de Santa Maria

The highways serving the town of El Puerto de Santa Maria on Spain’s southern coast were recently extended and improved, with the work including the construction of an elegant new highway viaduct. That proper attention was paid, not only to aesthetics but also to ensuring functionality, durability and value for money, can be seen in relation to the structure’s critical mechanical components - its bearings and expansion joints. The care that went into the selection of these components is demonstrated by the fact that a single solution was not chosen to satisfy either the bearing or expansion joint needs of all locations. In fact, two types of bearing (spherical and elastomeric), and two types of expansion joint (modular and finger) were selected for use on the same structure – a rather uncommon degree of diversity. The resulting benefits are described, demonstrating the importance of attention to detail in this part of a bridge’s design and construction.