Hidak Tolna megyében (Szekszárd, 2002)

dr. Gáspár László: Summary (angol nyelvű összefoglaló)

SUMMARY SUMMARY County Tolna is a Transdanubian region with varied geographical features. Mezőföld is of plain surface, Kapos-Koppány and Szekszárd Hills are hilly, while Sárköz is still partly floody area. The rivers Danube (Duna) Sió, Sárvíz and Kapós basically determine the development of road network and the construction of bridges. These waterways rolled along irregulated evén in the 18th century, so the regulation was of high importance. As a consequence, bridges of just 20-35 m spans had to be built instead of the earlier bridges of minimum 100 m length from the mid-19th century. The most important elements of the road network, the road „limes" along Danube was built in the Román Age, the remains of its major bridges were excavated in the region of Dunaföld vár and Szekszárd. This latter was built on the river Sárvíz, and a bridge can be found there since then. In the 14th century, the word „bridge" („híd" in Hungárián) appeared in the name of several settlements and has remained there. At the crossing points of the rivers Sió, Sárvíz and Kapós, castles were built (Ozora, Simontornya, Döbrököz etc.) the remains of the lifting bridges have been excavated (and are being exposed). After the Turkish occupation of the country, the long timber bridges leading to castles became of extrémé importance. It can be proven by records that a pontoon bridge stood between Gerjen and Kalocsa in the 17th century, such bridge structures were constructed during campaigns, as well. Documents have remained about the construction of several major bridges (the longest one was the Kaposbridge of 1100 m totál length at Dombóvár) and the bridge tolls and maintenance during the reconstruction of the country. It is known that the county had 36 stone and 184 timber bridges in the late-18th century. The frequent repair of timber bridges was very costly, that is why the administration of the county urged the building of stone and masonry bridges. As a consequence, there were 99 stone and 88 timber bridge in the county in 1837. The most remarkable two-span stone arch bridge was built in Bonyhád in 1783 that is still carrying the traffic safely. Arches were built alsó in 20th century, there were somé 200 in the county in 1973. They are mainly managed by municipalities. It should be alsó noted that at Kéty, an extremely skewed brick arch was built after 1837 and the Gráboc-bridge includes a building. The construction of permanent bridges was accelerated on different waterways using irón or steal from 1873 on when the first railway truss bridge was built. On the highways, nine major truss bridges were built, first, with parallel flange and double bracing, then the bridges on Sió, Sárvíz and Kapós of segmental shape with 20-35 m span. A bridge of 50 m span was constructed at Szekszárd in 1900. One of the specialities of the bridge stock of county Tolna, is that five originál truss bridges older than 100 years are still satisfying the traffic needs. In the construction of steel bridges, the Danube-bridge at Dunaföldvár is of outstanding significance which was designed by professor János Kossalka in 1930. The longest bridge span amounts to 133 m, and its totál length reaches 492 m. Among its specialities, the use of silicon steel and its continouos multi-span structure can be menti oned. In 1933-34, three truss bridges had been built on the canal Sió, such structures were constructed just after the World War II again. The oldest reinforced concrete bridge in the county is 92 years old. 21% of the present national road bridge stock of the county was built before 1944. On the Sió-canal, two Gerberhinged reinforced concrete girder bridges of 32 m span were constructed at Ozora and Pálfa. They were considered as significant engineering structures not only in Hungary, but alsó in the whole Europe. During the World War II, 27 highway bridges were destroyed, among others, the 203