Replacing Historic Rail Bridge in the Beer Sheba Valley, Israel

Two railway bridges were designed and constructed in the town of Beer Sheba, Israel, to carry a single track freight line to the Ramat Hovav chemical disposal site, over the Beer Sheba valley and Road Number 25. The bridge crossing the valley is a 9 span structure, 215 m in length, and the bridge crossing the road is a 4 span structure approximately 90 m in length. The architectural design was aimed to create harmony with the existing disused historic arched railway viaduct, blend into the desert landscape and produce minimal visual obstructions, or any negative aesthetic impact on the existing structure. The structural solution calls, on one hand, for modular design, ease of construction using repetitive elements and prefabrication, and cutting down costs and construction time to a minimum, and on the other hand for providing structural strength and integrity, excellent structural and dynamic performance, as well as safety. The result turned out to be a landmark in structural engineering.