Kovalska Group, which manufactured the bridge beams for the Degtyarivsky overpass, is ready for any inspection, said the group’s CEO, Serhiy Pylypenko.
As reported, on September 30, RDS Group of Companies was installing girders of the span on Oleksandr Dovzhenko Street in Kyiv by order of Kyivavtodor as part of the reconstruction of the Degtyarivskyi overpass. During the installation of the 7th girder in the design position, it lost its stability and led to the fall of the other 6 girders of the span structure. Kovalska ICG manufactured the bridge girders by order of the RDS Group as part of this project.
“We are ready for any inspection and will do our best to ensure that the construction of the overpass is completed no later than the scheduled date,” Pylypenko commented on the situation on Facebook on Sunday evening.
He said that the BM-36 bridge beams were manufactured in accordance with the design documentation and certified; each structure received a quality document approved by the Independent Bridge Inspectorate of Ukraine.
“These beams in their design position are capable of withstanding a load of 90 tons, which is 30% more than the design load, as proven by the protocols for studying the physical and mechanical properties of the structure. All the beams were loaded and delivered to the construction site, and the contractor accepted the products. The entire process of loading and delivery of the beams was documented. The collapse incident occurred during the installation of the seventh girder, when six were already in the design position,” Pylypenko said.
According to him, the available inspection data and evidence indicate that the problem arose during the installation of the beam, which for unknown reasons lost its design position, knocking down neighboring ones during the process. The choice of the installation method is determined by the contractor, in this case RDS, based on the project design, which clearly defines the type of mechanisms, lifting and installation technology with accompanying calculations.
He reminded that Kovalska Group has been producing reinforced concrete structures, including prestressed bridge beams, for decades.
“Thousands of buildings and infrastructure facilities, including bridges and overpasses, across the country are supported by Kovalska reinforced concrete. The quality and reliability of structures is the highest priority in our business. We have no doubts about the strength of the concrete, the implementation of reinforcement in accordance with the design and compliance with production technology,” he said.
Pylypenko emphasized that the company is ready for any inspections.
