HiSCS is involved in the jacking and lifting of two (2) bridges at Interchange No. 19 – Rawda Bridge and Interchange No. 20 – University Bridge on the 4th Ring Road in Kuwait City.

Both bridges are vehicular overpasses, each with a length of 220 m and a width of 12 m. They each consist of thirteen (13) spans in total: twelve (12) spans of 15.2 m and one (1) central span of 38 m. The superstructure comprises simply supported steel beams, five (5) per span, connected by cross beams and bracings and seated on steel bearings (260 units per bridge in total) of obsolete technology, as both bridges were erected in 1978. The bearings are longitudinally sliding guided on one side and fixed on the other.

The retrofitting works aim to improve the sliding capacity of the expansion bearings, as originally designed, allowing them to accommodate the service movements of the superstructure, primarily the thermal expansion and contraction of the steel beams, while eliminating stress concentrations in the deck slabs. Recent inspections revealed that the bearings had become seized and were no longer capable of sliding. To restore their functionality, the bridge was lifted by no more than 10 mm, and self-lubricating PTFE (Teflon) sheets together with stainless steel plates of appropriate dimensions were inserted between the bearing sliding surfaces. This intervention reduced the high coefficient of friction and thereby improved the sliding performance of the bearings.

Eight (8) hydraulic jacks, each with a lifting capacity of 200 tones and a maximum stroke of 20 mm, were used to uplift and support the superstructure during the bearing rehabilitation works.

HiSCS was involved in the structural modelling, lifting design, and development of the work methodology, as well as in supervising the works executed through our Kuwaiti partner, ANA.