HISTAR® steel sections reduce cost and time for the construction of Marsa Viaduct in Warsaw

Detailed information

The Marsa-Żołnierska stretch runs through three districts of Warsaw and forms one of the major arterial roads in the east of the capital. It is also one of the basic routes leading traffic from Warsaw’s right bank in a northerly direction. The role of this stretch of road has increased in importance since the completion of the Siekierkowska Route on the right bank of the river.

The investment consists of reconstructing the stretch of road from Marsa Street (in the Praga Południe district) to Żołnierska Street (Rembertów district) along the section from Naddnieprzańska Street to the city boundary. The scope of the project covers the widening of the existing road surfaces, the demolition of the old viaducts and construction of new ones, erecting soundproof barriers, and arranging the roadside greenery.

Realisation has been divided into two phases. During the first, Marsa Street was renovated from Naddnieprzańska Street to Żołnierska Street, and a viaduct was built over the railway line. The second phase is to cover the construction of additional viaducts on Marsa Street (over the railway line and the two intersections at Chełmżyńska Street and Żołnierska Street), the widening of Żołnierska Street to the city boundary by an additional lane, and the construction of a viaduct at the intersection with Czwartaków Street.

Structural optimisation thanks to ArcelorMittal's HISTAR® steel

In January 2011, ArcelorMittal contacted INTERCOR, which had won the tender to carry out the first phase of this project for Warsaw’s Board of Urban Road Investments (ZDIM) and had proposed an alternative solution for the existing project, developed by the technical division of ArcelorMittal in Luxemburg (TECOM). The scope of INTERCOR’s work covered the construction of two external viaducts (the entire structure consists of four viaducts – two smaller internal and two larger external).

The change to the project was to involve the use of HE 900 rolled sections of HISTAR®460 steel. The essence of the proposed change was a saving in the tonnage of the structure (a reduction from ~930 tonnes to ~750 tonnes), shortening of the realisation time, and reduction in the maintenance costs of the bridge (~20% smaller painting surface) and costs of execution.

The construction work connected with implementing the first phase of the investment commenced in March 2011. The section of road being reconstructed and expanded was around 890 metres in length.

In September 2011, ArcelorMittal received an order to supply steel girders and carry out pre-cambering; the remaining prefabrication work (welding, drilling, anti-corrosion protection) and assembly of the structure was done by INTERCOR. The alternative project is the work of the design bureau of GF-Mosty of Piekary Śląskie. The steel elements were to be delivered between the end of September and November 2011.

The scope of the work involved in the first stage included the construction of two new viaducts over the railway line, and as well as the road surfaces pavements, cycle paths, and the erection of 5-metre-high sound barriers. The shapes of the intersections with Marsa Street with Chełmżyńska Street and with Żołnierska/Rekrucka Street were also changed. The old, long-serving crossing over the railway line was dismantled.

After completion of the reconstruction of Marsa Street, motorists can make use of the two new (external) viaducts over the railway tracks, along with the cycle path and sound proofing screens. The first of the new viaducts was opened to traffic in January 2013 and the second in September of the same year. On the main section, the road has been widened to four lanes in each direction.