BAS 5522
Seongsu bridge
04.08.2024
© www.brueckenweb.de / Frank Sellke
Use in accordance with the terms and conditions
04.08.2024
© www.brueckenweb.de / Frank Sellke
Use in accordance with the terms and conditions
04.08.2024
© www.brueckenweb.de / Frank Sellke
Use in accordance with the terms and conditionsSouth Korea
Seoul
Seoul
Han River
Street
truss bridge
Steel
15.08.1997 (Neueröffnung)
120.00 m
1160.00 m
19.40 m
0.00 m
0.00 m
0.00 m2
in operation
The first Seongsu Bridge was completed in 1979; a section collapsed due to improper welding. Repairs, additional reinforcements, and widening from 4 to 8 lanes were undertaken, as well as the replacement of the concrete roadway with a steel plate (weight reduction!) – see also "Disasters" in this database. The Seongsu Bridge is a road bridge in Seoul spanning the Han River. It connects the districts of Seongdong and Gangnam. It was built in April 1977 by the Dong Ah Construction Industrial Company using a steel truss structure with reinforced concrete piers. It was finally completed in October 1979.
On October 21, 1994, at 7:40 a.m., a faulty welding process led to a structural failure of the structure. A 48-meter-wide section fell 17 meters into the river below. This fragment also carried a bus, a delivery truck, and two cars with it. A total of 32 people were killed and 17 injured. Numerous civilian boats also participated in the search in the river, which was hampered by rain and wind. Due to the seasonal conditions, the bridge section did not completely sink into the river and therefore remained partially visible.
The bridge had to be rebuilt.
Due to deficiencies in the design and construction, the initially considered repairs were quickly discarded. The only way to reconnect these districts was to completely rebuild the bridge.
Hyundai Construction began construction of the bridge on April 26, 1995. To accommodate the transverse loads, it was further reinforced. The concrete roadway was replaced with steel plates, reducing the bridge's overall weight. At the same time, the roadway was increased from four lanes to eight. Construction work was completed on August 15, 1997. Bridge collapse not an isolated incident in Korea
Unfortunately, the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge is not an isolated incident. Since 1970, a total of eight bridges have collapsed in the Seoul area. In most cases, the cause was the rapid completion of the bridges, which led to safety being neglected.
Hyundai Construction began construction of the bridge on April 26, 1995. To accommodate the transverse loads, it was further reinforced. The concrete roadway was replaced with steel plates, reducing the bridge's overall weight. At the same time, the roadway was increased from four lanes to eight. Construction work was completed on August 15, 1997. Bridge collapse not an isolated incident in Korea
Unfortunately, the collapse of the Seongsu Bridge is not an isolated incident. Since 1970, a total of eight bridges have collapsed in the Seoul area. In most cases, the cause was the rapid completion of the bridges, which led to safety being neglected.
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