ABSTRACT
Current sustainability practices emphasize preserving existing bridges and extending their lifespan, as seen in the Namir Arches Bridge over the Yarkon River in Tel-Aviv. This 70-year-old Tied-Arch steel bridge faces challenges due to its corrosive coastal location and continuous use as a four-lane highway. The lack of maintenance and repetitive load-cycles over the years have led to deterioration. Ultrasonic field tests of the rivets revealed the bridge’s condition, prompting the development of a rehabilitation plan involving the replacement of approximately 5,000 rivets. The replacement medium must have similar stiffness and capacity characteristics and avoid negative effects to the original plates. Options explored included: new rivets with a modern riveting machine, preloaded High-Strength Friction Grip (HSFG) bolts, and the chosen alternative of HSFG injection bolts. Beyond rivet replacement, the project addressed deteriorated abutments, and the replacement of expansion joints and safety barriers to ensure overall bridge functionality.
