Project Description
1. Short - term goal : To create a file for each bridge . To determine the need of repairs and repair deadlines, in order to provide for bridge safety . To develop a financial management plan for each bridge.
2. Long - term goal : By the use of different financing mechanisms , to have the Municipality ensure the long - term effective maintenance of the bridges , with a view to their safe use .
The project idea came up as a natural continuation of the street maintenance and financing project that was implemented by the municipalities of Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv and several other municipalities in previous phases of the Bulgarian Technical Twinning Program. The needs for the development of financial management plans arose from the fact that the bridges are a part of the street network and their condition to a great extent determines the use of streets and roads as a whole .
Veliko Tarnovo and Plovdiv approached project implementation in different ways :
Veliko Tarnovo , like the remaining Bulgarian municipalities , had no systematic data and studies of the condition of its bridges . As a result from the exchange of experience with the American counterparts from Golden, Colorado, we initiated an inventory and a detailed description of our bridges’ condition. As we have a significant number of bridges (approximately 200 in the municipality as a whole), we decided to conduct the inventory by GIS mapping. As we processed the data, we were able to identify the study needs: for which bridges, when and how. The large quantity of information that had to be generated and analyzed required the development of a structured database. In the future, the database will be expanded and updated .
Plovdiv conducted an inventory and technical assessment of the bridges in the city of Plovidv . This included :
· Bridge designs ( where available ). In cases when the plans have not been preserved , measures were taken of bridges ’ structural elements to determine the best possible plan ;
· A full set of photos of bridges ’ structural elements: deck, buttresses, arches, etc. ;
· Bridge age and information about past maintenance and repair works ;
· Traffic information, including volume and type. Traffic growth forecasts were developed for the next 20 years ;
· Pavement history and condition ;
· Remaining lifespan estimate .
The results from the project in Veliko Tarnovo may be summarized as follows :
1. Complete mapping of municipal roads and bridges located on them .
2. Development of a database containing information sheets for the bridges .
3. GIS integration and visualization of the information .
4. Identification of prices and cost estimates for design , repair and reconstruction .
5. Financial management plan for bridge repair and maintenance. Due to the large amount of work required for each bridge, the final version of the plan won’t be ready by the end of June, 2007. It will be completed after the data for all bridges have been processed .
The results from the project in Plovdiv can be summarized as follows
1. The Municipality has completed the inventory of the six bridges included in the project .
2. The inventory was used to develop an assessment of the current technical condition , expected lifespan and traffic safety .
3. Financial plans for bridge maintenance and replacement were developed .
4. Reconstruction designs were developed for two bridges, as well as for theContact :
Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo
Dinko Kechev
Dept. Head, Technical Infrastructure
Spatial and Town Planning Directorate
Municipality of Plovdiv
Pavlina Paunova
4000 Plovdiv
1, Central Sq.
t. : 032/656452
[Nominate]
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