CCL improves safety on Salim Salam bridge

October 16, 2020

Built in the seventies, Salim Salam Bridge is one of the oldest concrete bridges in the city of Beirut. CCL carried out extensive rehabilitation works to the bridge to improve safety on this critical structure.

The company’s scope of work included the design, manufacture and installation of 152 mechanical bridge bearings and design, supply and installation of 32 elastomeric bearings.

Replacement of the elastomeric bearings involved the lifting of the bridge at the abutments and the free piers to enable installation. A temporary steel support jacking system was required at the free piers before the bridge could be raised. This was designed and installed by CCL.

Four mechanical pot bearings were installed at each side of the 38 fixed piers. CCL also supplied replacement
expansion joints.

Salim Salam bridge is considered a major arterial connection between Beirut city and Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport making this key infrastructure vital to connectivity, accessibility and urban mobility. For this reason all lifting operations had to be carried out between 9 pm and 4 am to minimise disruption to traffic.