The Zuari Bridge, a remarkable 640-meter-long, 8-lane cable-stayed bridge, spans the mighty Zuari River in Goa, West India. The project also includes 450 meters of elevated approach roads supported by just two pillars, along with a 12-kilometer detour. The total estimated value of the project is $227 million.

This new bridge will significantly reduce long commute times between the two banks of the river. With a wider span compared to its 30-year-old predecessor, it will also accommodate the increasing vehicular traffic in the region.

The Public Works Department (PWD) aims to enhance road safety and streamline traffic flow with the new structure. In addition to the bridge, two towers with viewing galleries will be incorporated for tourism purposes. The project, which began in 2016, is slated for completion in 2019.

Parallel-Threaded Rebar Couplers for Piles and Pylons

Dextra has played a pivotal role in this landmark project by supplying its renowned Bartec parallel-threaded rebar couplers for Fe 500 and Fe 600 Grade steel. Over 110,000 Bartec couplers are being used in the bridge’s pile cages and pile caps. This iconic project features Fe 600 grade steel in the pile caps and Fe 500 grade steel in piles that extend up to 48 meters deep. The bridge’s 103-meter-high pylons are also designed with Fe 600 grade steel.

Bartec couplers are a high-performance mechanical solution, ensuring no reduction in the cross-sectional area of the bars due to their parallel threads. This characteristic strengthens the rebar connections and simplifies project inventory management—one type of coupler is used for both standard and position applications.

The preparation of each rebar end is efficiently handled by three high-productivity machines, which cut, cold forge, and thread the bars in sequence.

Post-Tensioning Bars for Precast Elements and Segment Castings

In addition to the Bartec couplers, Dextra supplied post-tensioning bar systems for the bridge’s precast segments. These PT bars are crucial for ensuring timely and high-quality erection of precast segments and casting operations.

As of November 2018, over 500 sets of PT bars had been delivered for the project. Dextra supplied these bars to Dilip Buildcon for yard applications and launching operations.

For Phase III of the project, Dextra provided PT bars and accessories to NRS.