Error identified in concrete compacting at railway bridge in Kuopio

A significant error has been identified in the concrete compacting of the new railway bridge in Kuopio, according to Harry Dunkel, an expert in concrete construction and structural calculations. Dunkel, who is retired, previously served as the head of construction education at Savonia University of Applied Sciences.

The bridge, which was opened last Friday, exhibits numerous large and small holes on its underside, with some exposing the steel reinforcement inside the concrete. There are also visible debris, including cigarette butts, wood fragments, and an object resembling a plastic bag, stuck to the concrete surface.

Dunkel speculates that an inattentive worker may have dropped trash during or after the reinforcement process, explaining that it would be difficult to remove such debris given the likely dense reinforcement beneath the surface. In construction circles, similar mistakes are commonly referred to as “rat holes.”

Typically, such holes are repaired quietly, and the public is usually unaware of these issues. Dunkel believes that the subcontractor responsible for the error will receive feedback from the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, the agency currently investigating the impact of these holes on the bridge’s lifespan, which is expected to be 100 years.

If the structure’s longevity falls short of expectations, a complete reconstruction may be necessary. Dunkel notes that if the reinforcements were installed properly, repairs can be sufficient. The process would involve chiseling sections open and filling the holes with concrete, which would require considerable time and effort, amounting to dozens of working hours.