Landslide in the area of the bridge on the Danube in Novi Sad

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the investigation of the large landslide that endangers the Sloboda Bridge in Novi Sad. At the time of its completion in 1981, this bridge, with pylons and stays in the central plane, was the world's largest central span bridge, with a span of 351 m. It has remained the bridge with the largest central span on the Danube. Its foundations are in a landslide area, and consist of piles that are up to 27 m long. The moving depth determined for the first sliding block is at a maximum depth of around 26 m, and for the second at a maximum of around 35 m. The movements have been measured by seven inclinometer installations. Movements have been minor and slow, yet practically continuous. For these reasons, the project has adopted repair measures in three phases: phase I, slope drainage; phase II, building a bank revetment in the Danube and regrading the slope area; and phase III, counterforts. The main conclusion is that with such large and special landslides, where the displacements are slow and fairly small, repair measures need not all be performed at the same time.