Nighttime repairs on Serbia's Pančevački Bridge disrupt traffic

Nightly works are under way on the Pančevački Bridge in Serbia to replace aging expansion joints. From 20:00 to 05:00 each night, traffic is rerouted as crews refurbish the connections that cause loud impacts when vehicles pass. Retired traffic‑engineering professor Milan Vujanić explained that the old‑model joints generate strong noise and can damage vehicle suspensions, though safety is not compromised.

The bridge, which also carries railway traffic weighing up to 600 tonnes, was last fully rehabilitated 20 years ago. Officials warn that without timely repair the structure could reach a point where repairs become impossible. About 6,000 vehicles cross the bridge during the morning rush, making the works critical for commuters from Palilula, the left Danube bank, Pančevo, Vršac and Zrenjanin. Larger reconstruction projects have been postponed to next year, while engineers prepare the most complex permit for the current overhaul.

Drivers are advised to follow the temporary traffic scheme each night until the joint replacement is completed.