Construction of Svilaj Bridge

The bridge is also the contact point between the motorway networks of the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total length of the bridge will be 660 m and the total width 29 m. There are three 3,50 m-wide lanes in each direction, not counting an emergency lane with protective 0,5 m marginal strips on the both sides, and a concrete pathway 0,75 m wide. The joint construction of the bridge is realized on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the construction of a cross-border bridge over the Sava River near Svilaj and the adjoining motorway sections along the Vc corridor. According to the agreement, the costs of bridge construction shall be borne by both Parties equally.  

The project is a part of a more extensive project which aims to build the A5 motorway from the Sredanci junction in Croatia to Odžak in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Sredanci – Odžak section is 15 km long and is a part of the TEN-T Transport Network. However, the cross-border bridge is in the Annex I of CEF Regulation (EU) no. 1316/2013 specifically referred to as a part of the Sava section on the Rhine-Danube Corridor. The lack of a direct motorway connection between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major bottleneck that currently restricts traffic flows between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The construction of this connection is ,therefore, necessary to ensure the smooth circulation of goods and passengers between the two countries.

In order to solve these problems, the project envisages the construction of a 660 m long Svilaj bridge over the Sava River. The bridge will be located between km 88 + 860.75 of the A5 motorway in Croatia and km 88 + 200.75 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project budget covers costs related to the construction of the Croatian part of the bridge from km 88 + 860.75 to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the middle of the Sava River, at km 88 + 530.75, as well as the construction of a road connection between the new bridge and the A5 motorway in Croatian side. Two separate objects are constructed, a static system of a continuous beam over seven fields with a double – coupled cross – section composed of a steel half – box and concrete lower and upper (pavement) slabs. The openings of the span assembly are 70.0 + 85.0 + 100.0 + 130.0 + 100.0 + 85.0 + 70.0 = 640.0 m between the axes of the abutments. The steel span structure of the bridge is executed in segments and mounted with cranes from the field with the construction of auxiliary columns for supporting prefabricated segments, except for the middle opening where it is performed symmetrically by free cantilever construction on both sides of the bridge. The foundation of the building is on reinforced concrete piles with a diameter of 150 cm and a length of 18 m.

The total width of the bridge is 13.50 + 2.0 + 13.5 = 29.0 m. Three driving lanes of 3.50 m each without emergency stopping lanes are planned. The protective traffic belts of 0.5 m are on both sides of the road, so that the width of the asphalt curtain is 12.0 m. It is followed by a granite curb and a concrete monolithic pedestrian path with a total width of 0.75 cm. The bridge infrastructure will be a continuous beam over seven spans with double composite cross-sections made of steel frame and concrete slab. The main span of the bridge which is 91 m long and with a distance of 7 m above sea level (89.21 m above sea level), will allow navigation.

The general objectives of the project are:

• to eliminate bottlenecks in road traffic on the Sava River
• to reduce travel time for passenger and freight traffic
• to reduce the cost of transporting goods between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• to cut down vehicle operating costs and increase transport capacity;
• to lower the number of traffic accidents
• to decrease the impact of emissions
• to improve the level of service