Experiences from launching the bridge over Gottleuba‐valley (Gottleubatalbrücke)

Abstract This article briefly describes the project background, timelines, structural data, actually achieved milestones and current stage of project of the bridge over Gottleubavalley in Pirna, Saxony, Germany. The bridge is being built using incremental launching method, the main challenges of the launching process are briefly described together with some learning points. The winning design from the architectural competition in 2006 proposed very slender (1 to 35 !) hybrid steel‐concrete semi‐integral frame crossing the 70m deep and 1000m wide valley with nine spans (92 – 116 – 120 – 120 – 124 – 108 – 92 – 76 m) with maximum span length of 124m. The paper describes the challenges the team faced during the preparation and launching of a very slender bridge deck with deflections up to 6m when touching down at the bridge pier. By the time of the venue, the incremental launching will be already finished, and the lowering works will be in progress.