Provisional Measures for Guaranteeing the Functionality of Existing Bridges: The Agnena Bridge in Caserta Province

The study deals with an existing RC bridge in Province of Caserta, Italy, realized between ’50s and ’60s of the last century, the so-called Agnena bridge. The bridge, whose functionality is strategic for the local road network, in the recent past has been affected by relevant geological issues, which provoked a significant crack pattern in the deck elements and abutments. Nevertheless, the social and economic issues related to the closure of such a strategic infrastructure, has led the competent administration (Province of Caserta) to carry out additional assessments with the aim to guarantee, even in a reduced condition, its functionality pending the realization of a final intervention (i.e. demolition and reconstruction). At this aim, the recently enacted Italian Guidelines for existing bridges have been taken as reference for the traffic load definition. Hence, an analytical assessment has been carried out by adopting a numerical FE Model. Then, it has been verified that a limited transitibility could be permitted on the structure, thanks to a provisional intervention and a monitoring system. On the whole, the proposed interpretation of the main Italian legislative documents could be profitably adopted for similar cases needing a reduced operatively for limited periods.