The study focused on the restoration of the access bridge to the Old Fortress of Corfu and the stabilization of the western retaining wall. After the Ottoman siege of 1537, the Venetians modernized the fortifications of the Fortress. During the reconstruction of the western wall with new bastions and a new access gate, the original bridge was also built. In the drawings and engravings of travelers, the bridge is depicted with wooden vertical support elements and a wooden deck. It consists of six piers and seven spans. In its original construction, the deck was wooden and supported by diagonal wooden elements nailed to the midpoint of the piers. The two ends of the section were raised and lowered with a mechanism. In the late 19th century, the bridge deck's support structure was completely rebuilt. The wooden elements have been completely replaced with metal ones. Four double-T posts with transverse beams of smaller width were installed. Curved pieces of corrugated sheet metal were placed inside the frames. In 1994, additional metal beams were installed to support the structure. According to the proposal, the deck carrier is being completely rebuilt, with the removal of a significant amount of heavily damaged material. A new deck is created by re-coating the final surfaces, the road for vehicles, and the sidewalks. The foundations of the six piers are reinforced with the application of fiber-reinforced coatings of suitable composition on their external surfaces, except for the oblique sections that are made of shaped stone and remain visible.
 
Client : Directorate of Restoration of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Monuments
Location : Old Fortress of Corfu
Design : 2025
Design team : Manolis Votsis, Antonis Krasas, Katerina Stavridi, Nasos Koumantos
Collaboration with the office : Kostas Ragousis
Static study: Aris Chatzidakis