The bridge on the Primorska Highway is being repaired for the fourth time. Ravbarkomanda, which is more than 45 years old, has received steel reinforcements and had its support pillars strengthened.

“We reconstructed the support system and added concrete to all the columns. We also reinforced the most critical elements – the column caps -- and replaced the surface. At the request of the client, we also widened the roadway, so we now have three lanes in each direction.”

Reconstruction work is difficult, and it requires improvised solutions. Because of the widened roadway, the column caps had to be strengthened with carbon rods, explains Turk. “To me, the most important part of the overhaul was the reinforcement of the most critical elements, the column caps, the construction of special anchored cross beams on the ends of the deck beams, and the tightening of the column caps.”

The reconstruction has extended the life of the bridge for 30 years, adds Turk. Experts believe that Slovenia’s bridges are safe, explains Aleš Žnidarič: “This is regardless of their current condition. The condition only tells us how quickly we need to act.”

According to some estimates, the expense of repairing Ravbarkomanda has far surpassed the cost of building an entirely new bridge.