The D8 Adriatic Highway section between Split and Omiš is one of the most congested roads in Croatia, with an average daily traffic of 11,000 to 15,000 vehicles. As a tourist destination, during the summer these numbers rise to an astonishing 55,000 vehicles per day, which is far exceeding the capacity of this two-lane highway. In response to this issue, Hrvatske ceste d.o.o. initiated the Omiš bypass construction project in 2007., which will ultimately bring significant traffic relief to the city center of Omiš and reduce summer and tourist season congestion.
The Omiš bypass is part of the multimodal platform project for the Split agglomeration and one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Split-Dalmatia County, with a total value of 90 million euros where Institut IGH provided services for supervision. The project included the construction of new roads with a total length of 3.7 km, access roads to the tunnel with a total length of 544 meters, the construction of the new Komorjak Sjever tunnel with a length of 600 meters, the Omiš tunnel with a length of 1470 meters, the Brzet tunnel with a length of 220 meters, and the construction of a bridge over the Cetina River with a length of 225 meters.
One of the project's unique features is the road fork located in the Komorjak Sjever tunnel, which is part of the connecting road to the state road DC70. The tunnel will accommodate two-lane traffic, with a road width of 7.10 meters and a height of 6.85 meters measured at the tunnel crown. The tunnel was constructed using the NATM technology, the most advanced tunneling method available.
Directly from the tunnel heading east, one reaches the Cetina Bridge. The bridge is a continuous beam span of 30.00+152.00+30.00 meters, based at the ends of the tunnels Komorjak Sjever and Omiš, with the largest span of 152 meters between two supports. The slender structure of the bridge, a closed steel box of variable height (2.50 m - 6.50 m), fits seamlessly into the environment without obstructing the view of the Cetina canyon. For the construction of the bridge, 1280 tons of steel was used. The assembly and erection of the bridge halves were conducted in the Komorjak Sjever and Omiš tunnels, with the final joining completed 70 meters above the Cetina River using special hanging scaffolds.
From the Cetina bridge, one immediately enters the next tunnel called Omiš, which is 1470 meters long. The tunnel begins at about 70 meters in height, on a steep cliff above the Cetina River, and runs east and northeast of the old town center of Omiš through the slopes of the Omiš Dinara massif. The tunnel is initially straight, then in a right curve, followed by another straight section and a right curve, and finally a left curve. The total road width in the tunnel is 7.1 meters, with a maximum clear width of 9.9 meters and a clear height in the center of the road of 6.85 meters. The road structure is 55 cm high, consisting of a wearing course (3.5 cm), a binding layer (5.5 cm), a bituminous base layer (7 cm), and a mechanically compacted layer (40 cm). Additionally, two evacuation tunnels were constructed within the existing Omiš tunnel, measuring 339 and 205 meters in length, respectively.
To complete the bypass and the Split – Omiš highway one smaller tunnel was needed. Tunnel Brzet, 220 meters long, which connects the expressway to the Adriatic Highway DC8. The tunnel is initially in a right curve, ending in a left curve, with the grade beginning to decline and continuing in a convex curve to the end of the tunnel. The road width, maximum clear width of the tunnel tube, and clear height in the center of the road are the same as in the Omiš tunnel, as are the road structure, drainage, and waterproofing. The portals are formed with a frontal wall that laterally connects to the embankment wall, and as it is a smaller tunnel, no longitudinal ventilation is planned.
We congratulate the investor, Hrvatske ceste d.o.o. on another successful project, as well as the contractors Viadukt d.d., Strabag d.o.o. and our amazing team of experts in the field of supervision. It is an exceptional honor for us to provide our services on yet another significant infrastructure project of great importance for the Republic of Croatia. We look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration.
Metrology, the science of measurement and its application, has always been a significant part of technological and scientific advancement. Its influence is visible in all areas of societal activity and is omnipresent in our lives. Today is the day we celebrate the foundation of every precise measurement and every scientific achievement!
From ancient civilizations that used simple tools for measurement to today's advanced technologies, metrology has evolved over the centuries, becoming a key part of everyday life. It`s not just the science of measurement. It is the foundation for innovation, trade, healthcare, the environment, and technology. Without precise measurements, we could not achieve progress in many areas.
Just try to imagine a world without precise measurement. Medicines would not be safe, buildings would not be stable, and our understanding of climate change would be limited. Therefore, today's occasion is an opportunity to remember the importance of metrology and its impact on our daily lives.
This year's theme for World Metrology Day is sustainability. Accurate measurements are the foundation of environmental research and policy-making because they allow us to understand and address the complex challenges associated with the environment, such as climate change, pollution, and the depletion of natural resources. The theme of sustainability encourages us to consider how metrology contributes to improving our lives every day. For instance, precise and reliable measurements enable better monitoring of environmental factors, more accurate assessment of the impact of human activities on the environment, and the development of strategies that promote ecological balance. Metrology supports us in making informed decisions by quantifying carbon emissions, measuring waste quantities, and monitoring natural habitats.
Metrology plays a crucial role in carbon emission accounting, which encompasses a wide range of activities including precise measurements, calculations, monitoring, reporting, and financial verification of polluters. Reliable data, derived from accurate measurements of potentially present pollutants in the environment down to the parts per billion level, are essential for establishing carbon accounting schemes and other legislative measures for environmental protection.
Metrology also plays an indispensable role in supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their efforts to achieve global sustainable development through:
The theme for World Metrology Day 2024 emphasizes the crucial role of metrology in all these areas and reminds us of our collective responsibility to preserve our planet.
This year also marks a new chapter in promoting World Metrology Day following the adoption of a resolution at the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Assembly in November 2023, which officially recognizes its celebration on May 20th each year. This will provide new opportunities to promote metrology, in line with UNESCO's mission to build a better world through science and education.
Source: DZM.GOV.HR
The students of the third grade of "Ivan Seljanec" High School in Križevci, specializing as civil engineering technicians, embarked on a unique educational experience as they conducted part of their curriculum on Construction Materials at IGH laboratories in Zagreb.
The school established a collaboration with IGH, with teachers Nikola Kovačić and Mihaela Nemčić from Ivan Seljanec High School coordinating the program with experts from the well-equipped laboratories at IGH. Prior to the field trip, students were provided with materials for learning both at home and at school, ensuring they were well-prepared for practical lessons.
To kick off the experience, students underwent a safety training course in the laboratory with Sead Zenelović, the head of environment, health and safety & fire protection division. After the course, equipped with necessary protective gear, students engaged in extensive and thorough testing procedures.
This opportunity provided students with valuable hands-on experience, with three more planned field visits before the end of the school year. Following these visits, students will engage in analyzing and presenting their findings from the laboratory work.
The presentation of the project "Rehabilitation of the concrete dam Mandak on Lake Mandak," near Lake Buško Blato in Livno, BIH, took place last week.
Our collegues Krunoslav Mavar & Mia Raič from IGH regional centre Zagreb, with the presence of Tomislav Marić, presented and defended the rehabilitation project to representatives of the Investor HEP-Proizvodnja from Split, Croatia and Crpne stanice Buško Blato .
The Concrete dam Mandak is classified as a medium-sized dam, which was built in 1967, in the bed of the river of the same name. The dam consists of nine concrete blocks, with a reinforced concrete bridge above the spillway fields. The height of the concrete dam is 31.30 m, while the length of the dam is 99.69 m.
The conclusion of the project review is that the project is well-designed and accepted. With some adopted remarks, it will serve as a quality basis for carrying out rehabilitation works that will contribute to improving the mechanical resistance and stability, and prolonging the lifespan of the structure. Rehabilitation works on the dam are planned to be carried out in the forthcoming period, thereby reducing future losses, increasing the functionality of the installed equipment, facilitating traffic across the dam, as well as enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the hydro-technical structure.
Today, we find ourselves in the office of Dr. Petar Sesar, M.Sc.CE, where exactly 45 years ago, on March 6th, 1979, he began his career at IGH. Exactly 50 years ago, Mr. Petar Sesar came to Zagreb to study civil engineering. During his final year of studies, he was noticed by Professor Dekanović, who recommended him to the Institut IGH. At that time, IGH was part of the university, and Petar also received a recommendation from the director of the metal constructions department, E. Hemerich.
Petar was offered a field job in the supervision of the construction of the R. Bogojevo bridge and design from Marjan Košćak, head of the bridge department. Considering Petar's passion for design, it was a simple decision that would later shape his extraordinary career.
"At that time, the department looked a little different. There were no computers or AutoCAD. The department had so-called 'drawing boards,' where drawings were done collectively. I realized how much of an opportunity I had to learn because knowledge was shared. This is something that sets the IGH Institute apart from others. It has always been a gathering place for interested and curious minds open to ideas and innovations," Petar recalls. "At the same time, I became an assistant to Professor Tonković, from whom I later inherited the sense of shaping. At that time, the construction of the Krk Bridge, which was then the longest concrete arch bridge in the world (390m), had just finished, and I got the opportunity to work with Professor Šram from Mostgradnja, Belgrade."
"After that, I worked with Professor Čandrić, who gained global specialization in Germany," says Petar, continuing, "I always loved working on constructions. There is something magical about symmetry. But bridges fascinated me because you practically design everything yourself, from start to finish. And at IGH, there is always something new, where you have to be both a forensic and an engineering doctor," explains Petar.
When it comes to projects he worked on, Petar highlights several that are particularly dear to him. Among them are panel calculations on the Adriatic Bridge, rehabilitation of bearings on the Krk Bridge, bridges in Karlovac, the bridge over the Drava River, and Drežnik Bridge over the Kupa River. "Among the competition works, my favorites are the Homeland Bridge and Čiovo Bridge, where we won second prizes, and the Jarun and Bundek bridges, where we received a redemption award," says Petar.
At the end of the conversation, Petar talks about the changes he has seen at the IGH Institute over the years: "The Institute has always been a center of knowledge that has brought knowledge to Croatia, taught others, and exported knowledge. It has always invested in knowledge, expertise, and novelties. Such an environment is stimulating. Construction and bridge building have progressed a lot since then. I am proud knowing that I worked with people who were part of that progress and with people who are now working on innovations."
Petar Sesar is a living example of dedication, expertise, and invaluable experience nurtured by the IGH Institute for 75 years. His extraordinary career has been marked by numerous successes and projects that have shaped the Croatian construction industry. On this occasion, we congratulate Petar on his 45th anniversary and look forward to witnessing his future endeavors and contributions to the construction industry.
Read more about it here: https://gradevinski-portal.com/razgovarali-smo-s-covjekom-koji-je-zasluzan-za-izgradnju-svih-vaznih-mostova-u-hrvatskoj/
In a significant development for the construction & engineering sector, the Supervisory Board of the Institut IGH has officially announced the re-election of Robert Petrosian as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This decision marks another 4 year term at the helm of IGH, reflecting the board's continued confidence in his leadership skills and strategic vision.
Since taking on the role, Robert Petrosian has been instrumental in steering Institut IGH through challenging times, overseeing major projects, and driving to innovation, quality, and sustainability within the industry. Under his guidance, IGH has achieved notable milestones, including the expansion of its services and the strengthening of its market position both domestically and internationally.
The re-election comes at a time when the industry is facing rapid changes and technological advancements. Petrosian's expertise and forward-thinking approach are seen as vital to navigating these changes and capitalizing on new opportunities. His leadership is expected to continue to foster growth, commitment to excellence, enhance operational efficiency, as well as sustain Institut IGH`s reputation as a company built on legacy of commitment to the development of technological & engineering solutions, setting new standards, and remaining a crucial partner in the realization of various large-scale and complex infrastructure projects.
The Supervisory Board's unanimous decision underscores their belief in Robert Petrosian's ability to lead the Institut IGH towards future successes and new heights. As IGH embarks on another chapter under Petrosian's leadership, the focus remains on innovation, sustainability, and delivering exceptional value to clients and stakeholders.
With an excellent track record & a clear vision for the future, Robert Petrosian is set to further cement IGH's position as one of the leading civil engineering company in Europe, with the biggest and most equipped laboratories in the central and south-eastern Europe.
We are always happy when we can announce the promotion of our colleagues to new positions. As of January 28th 2024., Director of Regional Center Split Ante Katić will also take on the role of Director of IGH Mostar. In his new role Ante will be responsible for further development of Institut IGH in Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina. Also, he will actively work on analyzing the market and trends as well development of client relations. Furthermore, together with other colleagues, he will continue to develop a good image and perception of IGH as a key civil engineering company in the region among clients, partners, and employees.
Ante has been working in Institut IGH almost 20 years. IGH was his first and only employer after finishing the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Split where he graduated and obtained his Master of Science in civil engineering diploma. Besides formal education, he is a licensed civil engineer within the Croatian Chamber of civil engineers, also he is IPMA certified project manager, FIDIC Engineer.
He started his professional career at the Institut IGH as Deputy Head of Road Construction Laboratory at RC Split, Head of road construction geomechanics testing within the Department of construction technology and road supervision. Also, he was a Head of control tests (geomechanics, asphalt and horizontal signalling) and designer of pavement structures.
From 2009. until today, he has continued his professional development as a supervising engineer for construction works (roads, ports, building construction) in the Department for Professional Supervision of RC Split. Since 2012. he has been the coordinator and occupational safety in the Department for Professional Supervision of RC Split. In April 2021. He was promoted to the position of deputy director of IGH Regional Center Split.
When it comes to his references, he has worked on numerous projects as a main supervising engineer and supervising engineer, safety at work coordinator, technological supervisor for clients such as Croatian roads, County roads Split, Split Port Authority, Ploče Port Authority, ACI, INA-Oil industry, to name a few.
With the announcement of the signed contract with the Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of the Republic of Georgia for preparation of feasibility study and detailed design for the upgrading and modernization of "Kobuleti Bypass Road", we bring you more information about this project.
The existing two-lane Kobuleti bypass road starts from Shekvetili and ends at the Chakvi-Makhinjauri tunnels. The length of the road is 31.3 kilometers. Within the framework of the monitoring of the intensity of the roads, the current and prospective increase in the intensity of the bypass road of Kobuleti was highlighted. In order to moderately develop the road infrastructure plan, the Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of the Republic of Georgia decided to publish a tender for feasibility study and a detailed design for the modernization of Kobuleti bypass road into a state of the art 4-lane highway which Institut IGH branch office in Georgia was awarded.
Kobuleti bypass is a component of the European Route E70 East-West road. As a result of the construction of the mentioned road, transit traffic from Adjara coastal strip is carried out on the new road, which will contribute to the ecological health of the resorts and the full development of tourism in the region.
The largest agglomeration in Croatia has been successfully completed, and another one in Cres-Lošinj has been expanded.
When we can directly influence the improvement of the quality of life in a city through the projects we work on, they demand 101% of our effort. One of such projects is the Agglomeration of Cres, Martinšćica, Mali Lošinj, and Veli Lošinj.
Together with the consortium, INSTITUT IGH, JSC will contribute to the implementation of this project. We are delighted to know that after the project is completed, the connection to the public sewage system will reach 96%, which is above the Croatian average. The project started at the end of 2019 with the signing of a contract worth 486 million kuna, co-financed by the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020. Non-refundable EU funds amount to 263 million kuna, while the remaining funds are provided by the relevant ministry Hrvatske vode and the Vodoopskrba i odvodnja Cres Lošinj (Water and Sewerage utility of Cres Lošinj), as the beneficiary of EU funds.
Investing in this agglomeration directly means investing in the public water supply and drainage system, as well as wastewater treatment in the area of the city of Cres and its associated settlements Cres, Martinšćica, Miholašćica, and Stivan, as well as the city of Mali Lošinj and its associated settlements Mali Lošinj, Osor, Sveti Jakov, Artatore, Ćunski, Nerezine, and Veli Lošinj.
Cres is the largest island in the Adriatic Sea, and with a length of 66 km, it ranks second among the longest islands. It belongs to the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and extends in a north-south direction. Its highest peak is Gorice (648m), and the well-known Lake Vrana is the main source of drinking water for the entire archipelago.
photo credit Grad Cres
The island of Cres is separated from the island of Lošinj by a very narrow Osor Channel, and they are connected by a rotating bridge, after which the road continues to Mali Lošinj. Lošinj is 31 km long and extends in a northwest-southeast direction. In the past, Cres and Lošinj were a single island. It was only through an artificially excavated canal near Osor, probably in Roman times, that two islands were created in order to shorten the route and bypass the large mass of the island on the way to the open sea. You can read about the flora and fauna, all the interesting facts about these islands, their history, and their beloved dolphins here.
Vransko lake, photo credit Mick Morton
It is an honor to work on the agglomeration that includes investments in the public water supply system, such as:
In addition to increasing the connection to the public drainage system to 96%, the reconstruction of the water supply system will reduce losses in the public water supply system from the current 36% to 27%, and improve the existing water supply of the Nerezine settlement by increasing the reservoir capacity for up to 343 residents.
The goal was also to enable wastewater treatment to an appropriate level and preserve its quality, as well as prevent its degradation, primarily for the purpose of preserving human health and then the environment, which contributes to achieving and maintaining good water status.
Another positive story happened in the Jastrebarsko agglomeration project. The residents of Jastrebarsko and the surrounding area received:
The IGH Institute has successfully completed the technical support and project management of one of the first and largest agglomerations in Croatia - the Jastrebarsko agglomeration. The project was carried out according to the conditions of the FIDIC White Book, and the works were performed in 14 settlements on as many as 18 construction sites. This is the largest investment in the history of the city, with a total project value of nearly 22.5 million euros. With a net amount of 72%, this project was also co-financed from the Cohesion Fund of the European Union. A total of 1,075 new connections to the sewage network were made for approximately 4,000 residents. 43.5 kilometers of new channels and collectors were built, and over 32 kilometers of roads were asphalted upon completion of the works.
Photo credit: Grad Jaska
The last facility built as part of this project is a wastewater treatment plant. Thanks to it, the wastewater will be returned to nature purified. We all know how important this function is today, as well as for the future of nature.
The city of Jastrebarsko is located in central Croatia, halfway between Zagreb and Karlovac. It is also popularly known as Jaska. It consists of 60 settlements and is a significant economic, craft, and tourist center. Over 17,000 residents live in these 60 settlements, with about 6,000 in the city center itself. All of them are part of a better future and great progress in their city.
We heartily congratulate all our colleagues on the expansion of the Cres, Martinšćica, Mali, and Veli Lošinj agglomerations. We also congratulate our colleagues from the Department of Professional Supervision on the successful completion of the largest agglomeration project - Jastrebarsko, and especially our esteemed colleague Miroslav Pauzar, mag. ing. aedif. in architecture.
On December 1st 2023, at the Company's head office, in Zagreb, Janka
Rakuše 1, the constitutive Supervisory Board Meeting was held where Žarko Dešković (OIB: 78923053725) was unanimously re-elected as the President of the Supervisory Board. Mariyan Tkach (OIB: 20591396734) was also unanimously re-elected as the Deputy President of the Supervisory Board of the Institute IGH.
Mr. Dešković has been in this position so far, and for more than two decades, he has been one of the key figures at the Institute IGH. Additionally, Dešković is also the honorary consul of Denmark in Split.