History meets the future
© GEFYRA/NIKOS DANIILIDIS
© GEFYRA/NIKOS DANIILIDIS
The Rio-Antirrio Bridge, also known as the "Charilaos Trikoupis" bridge, was completed in 2004 in view of the hosting of the Olympic Games and was officially opened shortly after they commenced. The bridge is named after the Greek Prime Minister who envisioned the connection of the Peloponnese with Western Greece in 1889.
The bridge is a grand-scale technological and engineering achievement of global recognition. It is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges worldwide, with a continuous deck spanning 2,252 meters.
The project is considered to be one of the most challenging and most pioneering in the world, due to the great foundation depth of up to 65 metres below the surface of the sea and the high degree of risk linked to seismic activity of the region, as well as to possible tectonic movements.
TITAN was the sole supplier of special specification cement for the construction of the bridge, which had never until then been produced in Greece. The Research and Development Department and the Drepano and Kamari plants effectively met demands that were often strict and contradictory:
For the underwater section and the pillars of the bridge, a continuous concrete pouring project, the Drepano plant delivered corrosion resistant and high early strength slag cement.
For the deck, a special quality of high strength but also low hydration heat cement was requested, which was produced at the Kamari plant.
The bridge connecting Rio-Antirrio helped reduce the time required to travel the distance and minimised the effect of weather conditions on crossing from one side to the other.
The bridge constitutes a project of great significance in transport and developmental infrastructure. It substantially contributes to strengthening the ties between Western Greece and the rest of the country and facilitates communication with Italy and the rest of Western Europe.