|
|
Flyover 'Willy Brandt', Cotonou, Benin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main cross-national east-west highway along the West African coast is one of the regions’ busiest roads. It also passes through Cotonou, the largest city and economic centre of Benin. There it used to hit city traffic at the Steinmetz roundabout. Steadily increasing traffic volume over the last couple of years caused the Steinmetz roundabout to be constantly blocked.
As effective and quick solution for this bottle-neck a new flyover was planned, a 180 m long bridge carrying the city traffic smoothly across the highway. Based on the longtime German-Benin relationship this EUR 10.5 mil project was co-financed by German KfW (German development aid) and the Government of Benin.
DYWIDAG International GmbH was awarded the design-and-build contract for this new flyover on June 5, 2007. The first concrete was poured on November 13, 2007. Some 14 months later, the new flyover, renamed in “Willy Brandt Flyover”, was inaugurated on January 15, 2009 by the President of Benin together with representatives of the German government.
The flyover provides one traffic lane for cars and another one for motorcycles in each travelling direction.
The bridge structure has nine spans, each being 20 m long and 15 m wide. In addition, at both ends of the bridge access ramps were constructed, one being 120 m long, the other 50 m.
The bridge was constructed using the prestressed concrete construction method. Each of the nine spans is post-tensioned with 18 DSI Multistrand Tendons. A total of 4.500 m³ of concrete, 700 tons of reinforcement steel, 55 tons of post-tensioning steel and 50 tons of sectional steel were being used.
The contract also included nearby drainage structures, safety railings, road pavement as well as the lighting systems and road painting works.
The Flyover “Willy Brandt” is already the 12th bridge that DYWIDAG has built in Benin since 1981.
>> Back
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
