Bridges with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) decks - The new Road Bridge in Friedberg (Hessen, Germany).

Bridges with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) decks - The new Road Bridge in Friedberg (Hessen, Germany). In July 2008 the first road bridge in Germany using glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) was finished in Friedberg (Hessen). The structure has a span of 27 m and acts as overfly of the federal road B 3 near Friedberg (Hessen). The high durability of the new construction material and the fast assembly of the bridge were decisive factors in favour of GFRP. Within the last years several light weight bridges using FRP were realised in USA, Japan and also in Europe. Through this valuable experiences could be gathered regarding construction, the use and performance of composites could be demonstrated. The bridge in Friedberg extends this experience with the approach of considering the composite action of the FRP deck and the steel girders. It also follows consequently the approach of durable bridge construction by omitting any bearings or expansion joints.