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The 'Steel Pipe Cross-Beam Method' applied at the Deulmok Bridge construction site on the Outer Suburban Expressway. / Courtesy of Lotte E&C

Lotte E&C announced on June 23 that the "Steel Pipe Cross-Beam Construction Technology for Concrete Girder Bridges," co-developed with Daelian Construction, Yooshin Engineering, and the Chung-Ang University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, has been designated as Disaster Safety New Technology No. 2026-4 by the Korea Disaster Prevention Association.

The technology is a construction method designed to reduce the risk of bridge tipping accidents by swiftly correcting the lateral displacement—or side-to-side warping—of girders that can occur during bridge erection. If a girder, which serves as a primary structural element of a bridge, bends sideways during construction, steel pipe cross-beams are installed, and their lengths are precisely adjusted using screw mechanisms to restore the structure to its original position.

As modern bridges grow larger, the length and height of concrete girders have increased, subsequently elevating the risk of collapse during construction. In fact, a series of collapse accidents during bridge erection last year and this year has pushed the securing of construction safety to the top of the industry's agenda.

Conventional methods primarily relied on pouring concrete to connect the gaps between girders. This process was relatively hazardous due to its complex stages—including installing formwork and scaffolding, placing rebar, pouring concrete, and dismantling structures—which demanded a high proportion of high-altitude work. Furthermore, because conventional methods lacked the capability to correct existing lateral displacement, they faced limitations in ensuring absolute structural safety.

In contrast, the steel pipe cross-beam method secures the structure by connecting the steel pipes immediately after girder installation, offering the distinct advantage of instantaneously correcting lateral displacement by adjusting the cross-beam lengths. Lotte E&C explained that this feature prevents tipping accidents during construction and significantly enhances structural reliability.

The company also highlighted the economic efficiency of the new method. By eliminating the intricate concrete-pouring process, it reduces high-altitude working hours and slashes the construction period for that specific phase by up to 87%.

"The steel pipe cross-beam method is a technology that instantly resolves girder warping simply by installing supports," a Lotte E&C official stated. "As it simultaneously secures construction convenience, shorter turnaround times, worker safety, and structural stability, we expect it to significantly boost our competitiveness in the bridge construction sector."

                                                                                                               Kim Da-bin