Photos: A Widespread Crack Has Appeared on One of Vanadzor's Main Bridges

A significant transverse crack has appeared on the Baghramyan Bridge in the city of Vanadzor, where the thick layer of asphalt has deteriorated, detached, and separated. As a result, the metal structures and concrete supports built under the bridge are already visible.

The open cracks clearly expose the lower section of the bridge. Drivers in Vanadzor had reported this situation days ago, drawing the attention of community and regional authorities, including the mayor and regional governor.

The information is sourced from armtimes.com. The situation not only poses a danger but also creates an emergency scenario for drivers. While circumventing the damaged section of the bridge, drivers must navigate in the opposite direction; otherwise, crossing over the deteriorated area may damage and break their vehicles.

Surén Abovyan, head of the city’s urban development and architecture department, discussed the situation with HJ and explained that any transportation infrastructure, whether a bridge or a tunnel under dynamic loads, is originally constructed and operated with the help of structural joint connections.

“In other words, they have a permissible limit within which they can fluctuate, and as a result, the materials covering these joints, which are cosmetic, in this case, the layer of asphalt, may continuously crack. Similar cracks exist in other junctions and bridges; this particular one is likely related to a sharp temperature change—it has become larger,” Abovyan noted, also indicating that the joints of this infrastructure were incorrectly built in the past. “There should have been a metal thread or a cushion at the junction, which is actually missing. We are currently developing this junction; we will draft a project-estimate and move forward with it.”

The city’s chief architect assured that the problem is purely cosmetic and that there are no constructive settlements or cracks, thus there is no danger. “However, I would also like to mention that any bridge should be reconstructed at least once every 30 years, and it would be preferable to consider the overall upgrading and reconstruction of the entire bridge in the future.”

The bridge was built in the 1980s, and reinforcement works were conducted after the earthquake. Since then, aside from cosmetic repairs, no significant work has been done.