Patent ID: 6574818
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: E01D

Abstract:
A method of building a bridge including at least one span supported by two spaced supports, the span having at least two main longitudinal girders carrying a deck, the method comprising the steps of:fabricating a plurality of longitudinal girders as tubular coffers of polygonal transverse section, with at least two parallel upper and lower plane faces, and at least two lateral faces, each coffer having a weight and a length compatible with machines to lift the girders; fabricating a plurality a spacers of the same length, each having two ends fitted with fastening devices; constructing two spaced supports on a construction site for at least one span of the bridge; transporting the coffers and spacers to the site; assembling, end to end, two series of at least two tubular coffers for building two main longitudinal girders; transversally connecting the two girders by a plurality of spacers that are fastened, at opposite ends of the spacers, to oppositely confronting lateral faces of two opposite coffers; placing the two connected main girders on the supports for building at least one span of the bridge; interlocking longitudinally adjacent neighboring main girders by a plurality of rigid transverse junction elements distributed over the whole length of the span and constituting at least a part of the deck of the bridge covering the longitudinal girders, each junction element extending at least over a distance between both longitudinal girders and being fastened to the upper faces of both longitudinal girders.