Structural collapse assessment of the access bridge to Hydroelectric Plant “Pacífico Mascarenhas”

The steel bridge popularly known as “Ponte da Usina”, is 54 meters long and is composed of 18 modules of 3 meters. Heavy rains that occurred on the night of 5 February 2013 at the top of the Serra do Cipó, caused an increase of the river level “Parauninha” of approximately 15 meters, causing destruction along its banks and the structural collapse of the bridge “Ponte da Usina”. This work describes the general bridge history and damages that have affected the structure in the past, the circumstances and the impacts of the collapse as well as the proposed alternatives for reconstruction of the collapsed bridge.