As the company says in a statement in summary, the scope of the underwater inspections included:
1. Inspection and local maintenance of concrete in the "wetting zone", i.e. from the surface of the sea up to a depth of 5 meters.
This is an area with the greatest exposure to chlorides, a determining factor for the corrosion of the reinforcement and the decomposition of the concrete in combination with the presence of oxygen, conditions which were taken into account during the design and construction phase of the Project.
2. Assessment of the condition of the underwater part of the lightning protection and grounding system of the main bridge.
The inspections were carried out by divers with a live video-audio connection to an engineer from the Bridge Structural Maintenance department who was at a workstation on the support vessel. A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was also used for the inspections.
Underwater and marine inspections are among the most demanding visual monitoring and maintenance campaigns of the Bridge due to the significant challenges that must be faced, such as the large surface of each pier and the specific environment in the Rio - Antirrio strait (sea currents, waves, winds ), requiring detailed preparation and special equipment. Their duration was almost 2 months.
These works are part of the general inspection program of the Bridge, which includes the inspection of 3,342 structural elements of the construction.
Twenty years since its opening, the Bridge, in addition to being an iconic landmark, is a model of technical and operational excellence for infrastructure projects, combining the international experience of VINCI Highways, with the leading know-how developed by the concessionaire.
This is how we ensure the continuous connectivity of the Strait, contributing to the sustainable development of Western Greece and local communities.
