During the static and dynamic load testing of the Chain Bridge held on 12 November, the experts measured the deformations caused in the structure of the crossing if 20-tonne trucks are parked at specific points. They also measured how the crossing behaves when a large vehicle passes through it at speeds of 5, 20 and 30 kilometres per hour, the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) informed.

Load testing on 12 November 2022, with 20-tonne trucks (Photo: BKK)

The BKK also announced on its website that the load testing measurements were carried out by experts from the Department of Structural Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. For this, 24 trucks, each weighing 20 tons, were used in dozens of positions, sometimes with an empty roadway, other times in one or two rows, with 12 or 24 vehicles lined up at the same time in predetermined positions.

Under the loads, the deflection of the bridge was measured from the bridge and the Danube bank with a geodetic instrument with an accuracy of 0.5 millimetres. With the help of strain gauges placed on the chain bundles, the suspension rods, the remaining old bridge structure, and the new steel track, they observed what deformations appear in the structure and what stresses arise in the individual elements. The movement of the coronal hoof was also monitored in the coronal hoof room at the top of the Buda pillar, according to the announcement.

The deflection of the bridge was measured from the bridge and the Danube bank with a geodetic instrument with an accuracy of 0.5 millimetres (Photo: BKK)

Finally, the BKK also informed that the full evaluation of the results is still in progress, but "based on the primary data, the Chain Bridge passed the test well: the values measured during the load testing were the same as the values calculated by the experts".

The Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest, its construction began in 1839 based on the plans of the English William Tierney Clark, and it was inaugurated in 1849. The 380-metre-long, approximately 15-metre-wide crossing, which is one of the best-known monuments in the country and the Hungarian capital, was rebuilt several times during its 173 years of existence.

The 380-metre-long bridge was opened to traffic in 1849 (Photo: Fortepan)

The plans for its current renovation were already completed in 2015, at which time the renovation of the Tunnel and other surrounding investments were also included in the program. However, it was not possible to start construction before the 2019 municipal elections, because the capital's administration at the time planned to call for a new tender to achieve more favourable construction costs.

This was interrupted by the 2019 municipal election, after which the program was delayed again, based on the decision of the new city administration, the renovation of the Tunnel and other related investments were left out of the program. The construction contract for the renovation of the Chain Bridge was only signed in February 2021, after which the works began.

According to the plans, the investment will be completed in 2023.

Source: BKK, Pestbuda.hu

Cover photo: A load testing was done on the Chain Bridge on 12 November 2022 (Photo: BKK)