WAAGNER

BIROREFERENCES
BRIDGES IN IRAQ
REFERENCES.

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 02

OVERVIEW.
Jahr
Year

Name, Ort, Land

Name, Site, Country

Brckentyp
Type of bridge

Tragwerk
Supporting
structure

Bauweise
Type of
construction

Stahlgte
Steel quality

Sttzweite
m

Masse
Weight
t

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

genietet, riveted

St 52

2 x 51.8 + 76.2

920

genietet, riveted

St 44

360

3220

2 x 35

3000

1957

Baquba Bridge across Diyala

River, Baquba, Iraq

1962

14th July Suspension Bridge,

Baghdad, Iraq

Hngebrcke,
Suspension Bridge

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

1978

Shatt Al-Arab Road Bridge,

Basrah, Iraq

Drehbrcke, Swing
Bridge

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

1982

Shuaiba Maqal Road Bridge,

Iraq

Drehbrcke, Swing
Bridge

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

geschweit, HVgeschraubt;
welded and
HSFG-bolted

BS Grade 500

2 x 41.86

775

1984

Garmat Ali River Bridge, Iraq

2 Drehbrcken, 2
Swing Bridges

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

geschweit, HVgeschraubt;
welded and
HSFG-bolted

St 52-3

2 x 36.37

776

Shatt Al-Basrah Road Bridge,

Iraq

2 Drehbrcken, 2
Swing Bridges

Vollwandtrger,
Plate girder

geschweit, HVgeschraubt;
welded and
HSFG-bolted

2 x 34

1000

RSt 37-2

Al Tanumah Lifting Bridge

1 roadway lifting
bridge

Truss girder

welded, bolted

S355

1 x 60m

580

1987

2014

RSt 37-2

St 52-3

S460

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 03

14TH JULY
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
Employer:

Ministry of Works and Housing

Directorate General of Roads and Bridges
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Suspension road bridge

Completion of construction:

1962 (Upgrading 1993)

Span:

168 m

Anchored cantilever:

2 x 84 m

Width:

23.3 m

Height of tower:

24.2 m

Fig. 1: 14th July Suspension Bridge

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 04

SHATT ALARAB BRIDGE,

BASRAH.
Employer:

Ministry of Works and Housing

Directorate General of Roads and Bridges
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Swing bridge for road traffic and four lanes

Construction period:

1976 1978 for swing span

Design:

Swing bridge of reinforced concrete with hydroelectric drive and locking system

Overall length:

650 m

Length of swing span:

70 m

Width:

21 m

Slewing range of swing span:

90

Two canals of navigation:

23 m width each

Fig. 2: Shatt Al Arab Swing Bridge

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 05

In the course of the construction of the express road in north of Basrah a bridge made of
prestressed concrete with a length of about 650 m was built over the Shatt Al - Arab
Waterway. As the depth of the river in that area is about 16 m a considerable effort was
given to the design of the swing span for the waterway.
The length of the swing span amounts to approx. 70 m with a width of 21 m for two lanes and
walkway. The bridge is operated with hydraulic cylinders, the capacity of the drive being 2x
36KW + 2x 32 KW. An emergency diesel generator with a capacity of 50KW is provided for
failure in public power supply. The opening and closing time is 6 minutes for a slewing angle
of 90.
Considerable effort was given to the central bridge bearing because the dead weight of the
swing bridge also made of prestressed concrete amounts about 2.500 tons.
The diameter of the bearing with 10 m with a number of 42 adjustable conically shaped
supporting rollers allow to transmit dead weight and traffic load to the foundation. The locking
system at both bridge ends achieve proper roadway surface for traffic.

Fig. 3: Slewing bearing for a central axial load of 6000 t

Diameter of circular path of travel: 10 m
Roller diameter: approx. 500 mm

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 06

GARMAT ALI RIVER

SWING BRIDGES.
Employer:

Ministry of Works and Housing

Directorate General of Roads and Bridges
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Two road swing bridges, each with two lanes

Built:

1984

Design:

Swing bridge of steel with hydro-electric drive and

locking system

Length:

73 m

Width:

14 m

Slewing range of swing span:

86

Two canals for navigation:

27 m clearance each

Fig. 4: Garmat Ali River Swing Bridge

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 07

Fig. 5: Garmat Ali River Swing Bridge Side view

Fig. 6: Slewing bearing for a central axial load of 1000 t

Diameter of circular path of travel 10.5 m
Roller diameter 500 mm

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 08

SHUAIBA MAQAL
SWING BRIDGES.
Employer:

Ministry of Works and Housing

Directorate General of Roads and Bridges
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Road bridge with four lanes

Built:

1982

Design:

Swing bridge of steel with hydro-electric drive and

locking system

Length:

86 m

Width:

18 m

Slewing range of swing span:

65

Two canals for navigation:

25 m width each

Fig. 7: Shuaiba Maqal Road Bridge

Fig. 8: Shuaiba Maqal Road Bridge Side View

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 09

SHATT AL-BASRAH
SWING BRIDGES.
Employer:

Ministry of Works and Housing

Directorate General of Roads and Bridges
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Two road bridges with three lanes across the Shatt

Al-Basrah Canal

Built:

1987

Design:

Swing bridge of steel with hydro-electric drive and

locking system

Length:

78 m

Width:

19 m

Slewing range of swing span:

75

Two canals for navigation:

23 m width each

Fig. 9: Shatt Al-Basrah Canal Bridge

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 010

Fig. 10: Shatt Al-Basrah Canal Bridge Side View

Fig. 11: Bridge Master Cabin

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 011

AL TANUMAH VERTICAL
LIFT BRIDGE, BASRAH.
Employer:

End client:
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND MINERALS
Main contractor:
IBN MAJID STATE COMPANY
Hay Al-Hussain near Saad Sq. Bridge, Basrah,
Republic of Iraq

Type of bridge:

Vertical lift bridge (truss girder) for road traffic

spanning the Shatt Al-Arab River

Built:

2013 2014

Design:

60m-vertical lift bridge designed to accommodate two

traffic lanes and two foot-walks with a total width of
9.55 metres; the movable main structure is hoisted
up or down by counterweighted cables, which are
driven by electro-mechanic winches.

Length:

60 m

Width:

9.55 m

Lifting height (vertical clearance)

45 m

Fig. 12: Drawing of Tanumah Lifting Bridge

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 012

Fig. 13: Drawing of Tanumah Lifting Bridge

Between 1957 and 1987 Waagner-Biro built a number of movable bridges in Iraq. In its bid to
continue its engagement in post-war Iraq, Waagner-Biro has been awarded the construction
of the Al-Tanumah bridge, including all machinery and electrical works. The steel bridge is
located in the urban area of Basrah and helps to rebuild the country's infrastructure.
Spanning the Shatt Al-Arab River will be a 60m-long vertical lift bridge, abutted on each side
by a 57-metre high steel-framed tower. The bridge is designed to accommodate two traffic
lanes and two foot-walks with a total width of 9.55 metres. The movable main structure is
hoisted up or down by counterweighted cables, which are driven by electro-mechanic
winches. The vertical clearance for navigation is set at about 45 metres. The dead weight of
the movable middle segment is a maximum 280 tons. The total weight of the bridge including
towers is about 580 tons.
The movable span reaches maximum lifting height in approximately 15 minutes. While being
lifted up, the main structure travels on four guiding rails installed on four steel columns
framed together to form two steel towers. Separate control mechanisms make sure that the
lifting speed on each side is synchronised for parallel vertical lift. For stability in its open
position, the bridge is locked by four electrically driven cylinders. In case of power outage, an
emergency power supply unit guarantees continued smooth operation.
Waagner-Biro designed, manufactured and supplied the steel structure, steel towers and all
mechanical and electrical parts necessary for the lifting of the movable span.

BRIDGE SYSTEMS 013

WAAGNER-BIRO
BRIDGE SYSTEMS AG

CONTACT.

Leonard-Bernstein-Strasse 10
A-1220 Vienna, Austria
Tel. +43 (0)1 28844 0
Fax +43 (0)1 28844 7814
Website: www.waagner-biro.com
Email: bridge@waagner-biro.com