Turkmenistan produces bridge girders primarily using reinforced concrete and steel, supplied by facilities like the Turkmenistan Iron and Steel Factory near Ashgabat.

Bridge Construction in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has been actively developing its transport infrastructure, including highways and railways with numerous bridges. For example, the Turkmenbashi-Ashgabat highway features about 30 bridges, while the Ashgabat-Mary highway has 12 bridges, and the Archman-Turkmenbashi section includes 62 bridges. These projects utilize reinforced concrete and steel girders to support decks and withstand dynamic loads, water currents, and seismic forces .

Girder Types and Materials

Bridges in Turkmenistan commonly use girder bridges, which rely on girders to transfer loads from the deck to piers and abutments. The girders can be:

• Rolled steel girders: Standardized I-beams or wide flange beams, fabricated by rolling steel through dies.
• Plate girders: Welded steel plates forming flanges and webs, offering flexibility in height and span.
• Box girders: Box-shaped steel or concrete girders, resistant to torsion and suitable for long spans .
• Prestressed concrete I-girders and NU girders: High-strength concrete girders with prestressing strands, designed according to AASHTO LRFD specifications, capable of spans exceeding 100 meters .

Turkmenistan Iron and Steel Factory

The Turkmenistan Iron and Steel Factory, located 25 km from Ashgabat, produces rebar and steel profiles from scrap iron, which are essential for reinforced concrete girders. The facility covers 150,000 m², with a closed area of 45,000 m², and has a production capacity of 160,000 tons per year. It operates with one electric arc furnace and two rolling mill furnaces, supplying steel for construction projects including bridges .

Integration with Infrastructure Projects

The steel and concrete produced at the plant are used in major bridge projects across Turkmenistan, including overpasses and long-span railway bridges like the 1,750-meter bridge over the Amu Darya. These girders are designed to handle compressive, tensile, and bending stresses, ensuring durability and safety in the country's expanding transport network . In summary, Turkmenistan's bridge girder material production relies on a combination of high-strength concrete and steel girders, supported by domestic steel manufacturing facilities, to meet the demands of its growing highway and railway infrastructure.