ABSTRACT
The article describes the interesting technical history of a road viaduct over busy dual carriageway national road. Economic transformation in Poland caused that this bridge changed owners several times. The lack of maintenance by previous owner and his agreement to active mining exploitation despite the inadequate technical condition of bridge object, led to the situation threatening a serious construction failure/disaster. It was necessary to take unusual measures that would have prevented a construction disaster and allowed mining exploitation to continue, because suspending mining operations would result in millions losses for the local mine every day. Due to lack of time to prepare the documentation for rebuilding and obtain formal-legal permits, immediate action was taken to prevent spans from sliding off the pier, including: constructing an auxiliary frame to stabilize the bridge bearings and anchors to connect adjacent spans. Then, technical documentation was prepared and the viaduct was rebuilt, adapting construction to predicted mining area deformations. Original, individual solutions are worth presenting, they can be applied in engineering practice. The article also describes the experience of over 12 years of observing this road viaduct and the cooperation between new owner, local mine and local municipality.
