ETHIOPIA - AWASH - KOMBOLCHA - HARA GEBAYA RAILWAY PUT INTO OPERATION

“Freysaş’ First Incremental Launching with Steel Decks”

Constructed by Yapı Merkezi Inc. as a 390 km long single track, the Awash – Kombolcha – Hara Gebaya Railway Project is highly significant as it will establish connection between the northern part of Ethiopia and the central part of the country. 

The railway line, being part of Ethiopia’s Development and Growth Plan, is one of the country’s priority railways and constitutes the backbone of the Ethiopian transportation system. The line will serve as an important export corridor connecting the northern and eastern parts of Ethiopia with the Port of Djibouti. 

The project covers the turnkey performance and commissioning of all design works, material supply, infrastructure construction works, repair and maintenance workshops, stations, administrative buildings, track laying, signalling, catenary, energy supply, communication systems, spare parts supply and training works.

In this highly significant project, steel incremental launching bridge deck works, bearing design and supply works, post-tensioning rod supply and tensioning works have been carried out by Freysaş, who also undertook the design of ILM temporary steel components, temporary bearings, guiding device, and final tension bar equipment.

• INCREMENTAL LAUNCH BRIDGES

"7 bridges with 54 m span and a total length of 2265 m were constructed using the incremental launching method.

Steel deck incremental launching operations with 46 m type spans including also deck and precast top floor installations were completed in 6 to 2.5 days’ cycles in average."

• FREYSSIBAR TENSIONING 

Prior to ILM works, the supply of Freyssibar post-tensioning bars that connect the bases, abutments and abutment caps in various bridges covered by the project, and the subsequent tensioning works were carried out.

SUPPLY of BEARINGS and EXPANSION JOINTS

The design and supply of bearings and PDS devices covered by the project were carried out successfully.