Rehabilitation of bridges after heavy vehicle impacts with the parapet

This paper describes two similar accidents caused by the impact of heavy vehicles with the parapet on two different bridges. Both infrastructures were seriously damaged and virtually out of service. The first experience is based on a 264 metres long bridge consisting on two separate decks, supported by independent abutments and two piers each. The left bank viaduct is just 200 metres from the Cantabrian Sea and therefore it is highly affected by an atmosphere of maritime corrosivity. It has three spans of 72+120 +72 m and the maximum pier's height is 43 metres. As a result of the serious accident the containment systems was seriously damaged. The critical road safety situation caused by the aforementioned accident pushed an urgent intervention on the viaduct to recover new safety conditions. The second experience is related to a half point arch pontoon made of mass concrete with a single span of 7.00 m. It has a straight floor plan and a total height of 12.30 m. As a result of the action, a detailed visual inspection was carried out and several structural damages were observed. This communication describes the repairing works since an integral perspective covering the overall structure and going from the foundations to the road surface.