Two 1,500 T self-reacting lines supplied by Moldtech S.L. will allow the manufacture of prestressed beams up to 40 m long and 90 T in weight directly for the construction corridor of the Târgu Mureș – Miercurea Nirajului section, western part of the future A8 highway, one of the most strategic road construction projects in Romania.
The A8 highway, also known as the Unirii highway, is a priority axis within the national and European infrastructure plan, connecting the regions of Transylvania and Moldova via an east-west corridor integrated into the TEN-T transport network. The initial section of the project, comprising approximately 24 km between Târgu Mureș and Miercurea Nirajului—including the connection to the A3 highway via an additional 2.4 km branch—presents a high degree of technical complexity due to the diverse structures to be built on predominantly undulating terrain with numerous secondary road crossings.
Within this context, the local production of long-span beams is essential to maintain the planned construction schedule and ensure the structural quality of the corridor’s numerous viaducts. For this purpose, our client will install a high-capacity prestressing system designed to allow for the on-site fabrication of large-scale precast elements.
Technical characteristics of the self-reacting prestressing bench (1,500 T)
The self-reacting lines provided are designed to meet the high strength, precision, and repeatability requirements necessary for heavy-duty infrastructure beams. Their configuration includes:
- Self-reacting structure, 92 meters long, designed to withstand high reaction forces.
- Hydraulic casting bed, 85 meters long and 3.8 meters wide, to accommodate sections with significant geometric variations.
- Interchangeable bottoms 950 mm and 500 mm, allowing for the manufacture of different beam types.
- Active and passive stressing heads bearing with a combined reaction capacity of 1,500 tons, suitable for high-force tensioning equipment.
- Hydraulic detensioning unit, ensuring controlled and safe processes.
- Side moulds suitable for large I-beams.
- Complementary systems for tensioning, concreting, and detensioning within a rigid and traceable industrial cycle.
This equipment will allow the manufacture of beams 42.50 meters long, 2.20 meters high and weighing approximately 100 tons, essential precast elements to resolve the viaducts of the section and ensure the continuity of the route with a robust and repeatable structural solution.
On-site production: logistical efficiency and reduced lead times
The prestressing lines will be installed in Acațari, directly on the project site. This decision is a key factor in terms of cost optimization and reduced construction time. On-site fabrication of large beams eliminates the need for special transport of elements longer than 40 meters, which:
- Significantly reduces logistics costs.
- Minimizes risks associated with transporting heavy components on public roads.
- Enables production scheduling at the precise pace required by the project.
- Improves traceability and dimensional control of each component.
The ability to produce beams alongside the construction site allows for a continuous supply and avoids bottlenecks that would delay the construction of viaducts, one of the most critical parts of the project.
Modularity and relocation of the system
One of the most outstanding features of the 1,500 T lines are their modular design, composed of sections approximately 12.5 meters long, assembled using high-strength bolts and screws. This design allows for:
- Transport each module on standard trucks without the need for special convoys.
- Assemble the prestressing line directly on the construction site.
- Dismantle it once the section is completed.
- Reinstall it at a new point along the A8 corridor or in future projects, maximizing its lifespan.
Once the manufacture of the beams corresponding to Section I is completed, the equipment will be dismantled and moved to a new location, reflecting the operational versatility required by large linear works.
Relevance of the project within the A8 highway
According to data published by the main contractor, the scope of the project includes:
- 4 km of new highway.
- 30 prefabricated bridges with a total length of over 2,500 meters.
- 2 additional steel bridges.
- Underpasses, interchanges, service areas, and maintenance centers.
The large number of structures creates a sustained demand for prestressed beams, a critical element for ensuring the simultaneous progress of multiple construction fronts. Adopting industrialized solutions such as on-site prestressing lines allows for accelerating the construction process without compromising quality.
A key project for regional connectivity
The A8 highway is a priority project within the national development plan. It is anticipated that:
- Significantly reduce travel times between regions.
- Increase road safety on long-distance journeys.
- Boost trade, logistics, and interregional mobility.
- Contribute to a more cohesive network, with improved access to the European Union’s eastern border.
The use of self-reacting prestressing lines and local production solutions not only improves construction efficiency but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with the transport of large prefabricated elements, aligning with European sustainability objectives in infrastructure.
Technical solution and international experience
The incorporation of self-reacting prestressing systems in large-scale projects like the A8 highway demonstrates the growing relevance of industrialized solutions in civil engineering. The modularity, responsiveness, and versatility of these systems allow for the efficient construction of long-span beams in contexts where logistics are a critical factor.
In this project, the engineering, modular design, and equipment manufacturing were carried out by Moldtech, a company with extensive experience in prestressing solutions and equipment for high-capacity infrastructure projects across five continents. Their technical expertise provides the contractor with a high-performance production tool to meet demanding requirements anywhere in the world.
