Cemex Germany is using a customised light-coloured ready-mix concrete to restore the Augustus Bridge over the river Elbe in the German city of Dresden.
Cemex says the concrete is designed to preserve the colour and surface texture of the bridge as well as ensure its integrity complies with visual consistency of the other historical pieces of architecture and infrastructure in the region.
The City of Dresden, represented by the Road and Civil Engineering Authority, the Dresden public transport services and various utility companies are currently renovating the Bridge in accordance with the protection of historical monuments. The project follows a series of incidents that have damaged the structure, including a flood in 2013.
Hentschke Bau of Bautzen - the initiative's primary contractor - is using approximately 4,000 cubic meters of concrete from Cemex Germany and is hoping to complete work by Spring 2020. The renovation includes the replacement of one of the bridge’s arches at the Old Town abutment above the riverside road, Terrassenufer, which has been completed. Each of the arches and piers will be equipped with reinforced concrete slabs as a basis for a new waterproofing system. In addition, all visible surfaces made of sandstone will be repaired.
According to Cemex, the concrete's customised colour was developed by mixing yellow and red pigments with limestone chippings, limestone powder and a special binder that ensures the required strength of the bridge with the added feature of reduced heat generation.
Uwe Engelhardt, area manager, ready-mix concrete, saxony, Cemex Germany, says: “The greatest challenge in terms of concrete technology is the restoration of the arch over the Terrassenufer, since the concrete for that section must have the same appearance as the historic concrete from 1910. The construction site is particularly challenging due to its unique location against the backdrop of Dresden’s historic Old Town, with the Bridge as a central location in the city.”
The Bridge spans the river Elbe between the old and new towns of Dresden, at a spot along the river where there has been a crossing since the 12th century.
