Planning, design and construction challenges of major bridges in the Egnatia Motorway, Greece

The Egnatia Motorway running across northern Greece is an impressive project. Not only is it currently one of the most ambitious highway projects anywhere in the world, but carving its way through Greece's mountainous backbone has also brought many design and constructional challenges. In this paper the bridge inventory, the design philosophy from the feasibility stage to the detailed design, the procurement methods, and the technological advances implemented for earthquake-resistant structures are presented. Case studies are also discussed stating the design details, which lead to more durable low-maintenance structures, structural concepts in reference to demanding ground conditions and site-specific requirements, with information on quantities and cost estimates.