Despite less than ideal weather conditions, this vital project is still progressing without any delays
Not even the strong southern winds or relentless rain, a combination that usually represents a nightmare for contractors, could slow down the progress on the construction of the long-awaited Čiovo bridge. As reported by Portal grada Kaštela on March 7, 2016, Trogir – Čiovo Bridge is progressing as scheduled, much to the satisfaction of all contracted parties.
“I am usually never satisfied with the progress but, despite all the troubles we’ve encountered in terms of weather, wind and high tides, we still managed to construct 521 m of length and 13 m in width which puts us right on schedule. At any given time we have up to 150 workers on the construction site including engineers, divers, and other auxiliary services. Heavy machinery is here since day one and you can see the contours of 13 pillars and 2 abutments” – Davor Trlaja, an engineer in charge of the east bridge entrance states.
And in this part of the construction site we can see concrete mixers, cranes, dredgers, trucks, forklifts all finding their way through the mud and fighting their own battle with set deadlines. It all has to be finished by October 2016 when this 207.881.506,01 kuna project (85 co-financed by EU funds) will finally open for traffic and end the grueling traffic jams in and around Trogir.
– Most complex construction works are under the sea. Needless to say, once we sent the divers to check the terrain we were greeted by less than ideal conditions since the bottom is full of clay, sand and gravel and no hard surface – Mr. Trlaja explains.
As the workboat approached to take the members of the press to pillar S7 the weather worsened, giving everyone an idea just how harsh their working conditions have been for the last month: “Luckily that pontoon in front of us protects us from the southern wind and waves. We’re a bit more protected than our colleagues currently working within the Split harbor” says Nenad Nekić, head machinist.
Regardless of weather conditions, work has to be completed so each day another piece is added to the main bridge frame, even if it means working in three shifts. Supporting wall for the new road on Čiovo which will lead to and from the bridge will be 800 m long and it has to be finished by the summer so that they can continue working on the old road to finish the bridge on time. And knowing just how long all residents of Trogir and Čiovo, as well as tourists that usually waste hours and hours trying to cross the existing bridge, have been waiting for this alternative route, we hope the weather will finally clear up and let the crew work to their full capacity.
