• Location: Northern ring road at Elche (Alicante) SEE MAP
• Scope of works: International conceptual design contest
• Structural type: Through arch bridge
• Construction process: Arch: cantilever construction; deck lifted from the arch
• Overall length: 193,0 m
• Spans: 147,0 m
• Deck width: 26,5
• Deck maximum height: 33,0 m

The design of the Bridge Over Vinalopó River in Elche, was created by Torroja Ingeniería for an International Contest, promoted by the “Consellería d´Obres Publiques and the Municipality of Elche”.

The proposed design is a through arch bridge of 121 central meters, and a top deck bridge near the abutments. The arch has a 147,0 m span and 39,0 m rise, with an overall length of 193,0 m between abutments.

Geotechnical conditions were not ideal for an arch structure foundation. Using the deck as the lower tie solved this problem. This closed the static resistance scheme, made up of the arch under compression, the deck as the tie and the triangular cells also under compression. In such a way that reactions are vertical at the abutments.

The supporting structure is a reinforced concrete arch, 1,80 m deep at its crown, and 2,50 m at the abutments, with a width of 3,0 m in the 121,0 central meters and 6,0 m width for the rest. The deck hangs from the arch by hangers every 11,0 m, fixed in the middle of the deck.

The deck is a two-cell box concrete girder, with a span length of 211 m, 26,50 width and 2,30 m depth. The transverse section consists of two single-cell boxes, and is post-tensioned longitudinally as well as transversally, due to the width of the deck.

The structural scheme used requires several strut frames between the arch foundations and the ends of the decks. These frames are reinforced concrete structures, 10×10 m width and depth.

The construction of the arch was a segmental construction using movable scaffolding and temporary cables. The deck was divided into 5 sections 21,0 m long, pre-fabricated on the ground on-site and later lifted into place with jacks from the arch.