In the context of the practical training (application of theoretical knowledge on road bridges) of the Training Programme of the K.E.DI.BI.M. N.T.U.A. “Inspection and Structural Evaluation of Bridges and Technical Projects” with Scientific Officer Mr. Sapountzakis, Professor of NTUA, the trainees visited on 13/11/2022 the bridge B044 of the Olympia Road, the crossing 77+140 of the Elefsina-Korinthos Motorway (upper crossing of the motorway at the location of the Justinian Wall) and the technical B040 of the Isthmus Bridge.

More specifically, a technical presentation was held which included:

• Inspection – through random damage survey – of pedestals and vector of the right branch of the Technical B044
• Inspection – through random damage survey – of pedestals and vector Left branch of Technical B044
• Briefing on the Design/Construction and Structural Management of the B040 Isthmus Bridging Technical in the area around the middle docks on the Peloponnese side, where there was an update on the reason/cause and the upcoming process of lifting the Bridge for the replacement of the seismic isolation reservoirs of the Technical.

Special thanks are due to Mr. P. Papanikolas, Managing Director of Olympia Odos, Mr. M. Bartzis, Road Works & Civil Infrastructure Asset & Design Manager of Olympia Odos and Mr. X. Sotirchopoulos, Construction Manager of Olympia Odos, for the excellent organization of the visit (in terms of material and equipment) and their very informative presentations. More specifically, the trainees had at their disposal the reports and calibration results of the previous inspections (2010, 2019), as well as the data concerning the Design and Construction data (Regulations and as built drawings) so that on the one hand the evaluation and calibration of the Bridge in terms of its current condition could be done and on the other hand it was possible to compare it with the damage records of the previous inspections, in order to obtain useful information on the possible degree of evolution of the defects and the imminent damage.

For the needs of direct access to the higher sections and surfaces of the Technical (lower carrier strut, upper sections of the pier and mid-pier, pier heads and reserve bearing positions etc.) 2 lifting machines were available. Also available were Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for inspection (helmets, vests) and the basic surface inspection and measuring/printing equipment (hammers, measuring tapes, transparent crack meters, etc.). For all the above, many thanks are addressed to ‘Olympia Odos SA’.