Grijalva River Bridge, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

A new cable-stayed bridge over the Grijalva river at Tabasco in Mexico is described. The single-span bridge was designed to carry two carriageways and one footway. The bridge is extended by two approaches on either side, each made of four spans. The total bridge length is 391 m. The platform width is only 13.8 m. The Tabasco region has a high seismic risk. The stiffness of the towers allows the longitudinal forces produced by earthquakes to be resisted by a single pier. The bridge was longitudinally fastened at one tower only. The deck is made of two longitudinal girders connected by strut diaphragms and by the top slab. The towers open in a V-shape in the bridge elevation and close in an A shape in the transverse plane. The stays have three alignments due to the V-shape of the tower. The bridge was built by free cast in situ cantilevers using form travellers, advancing symmetrically from each tower. Details are given of the owner, designer, contractor, costs and service date.