A section of a bridge on Lithuania’s main Vilnius-Kaunas motorway tipped over on Tuesday evening. The bridge, no longer in use, was undergoing demolition. No one was hurt during the incident.
"We cannot say why, because all the preceding spans were dismantled according to the same technology, based on the demolition project, and everything went well," Aldas Rusevičius, head of the contractor Kauno Tiltai, told LRT TV. “Now the experts will determine why this happened.”
"As with the previous cross-beams, the dismantling is taking place from both sides, and as one side is being removed, the other side is being lowered in parallel,” he said, adding that a commission will be set up to investigate the cause of the incident.
The dilemma is now how to remove the 400-tonne structure. One side of the section is lodged on ground level, while the other is leaning against support.
"If any irregularities are detected that pose a threat, measures to ensure safety will be decided immediately," Rusevičius said.
The bridge, parallel to the one being dismantled, may have to be closed temporarily to allow for the work to proceed.
“We will try [to] cause as little disruption to traffic as possible," Rusevičius said.
Currently, there are no traffic disruptions to the A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda motorway.
Meanwhile, traffic is closed on parts of Paneriai Street in Kaunas that runs under the bridge.
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