BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA                                        88 000 Mostar, Adema Buæa

BiH FEDERATION                                              Phone no.++ 387 36 550 805/550 806

CITY OF MOSTAR                                                      Telefax no. ++ 387 36 550 804

PCU MOSTAR                                                                E-mail – pcu@starimost.ba

 

Number 01 07 329

Mostar, 02.07.2001

 

 

                                                                       

World Bank

Infrastructure Sector Unit

Regional Office for

Europe and Central Asia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Bridge in Mostar

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project Status Report

 

Period from 10.01.2001. to 30.06.2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

PCU – Deputy director                                                PCU – Director

 

      Tihomir Roziæ                                                            Rusmir Èišiæ

          (signed)                                                                      (signed)

 

Contents:

 

1.       Activities in the project during the abovementioned period

2.       Neighbourhood Component

3.       Technical activities in the project during the abovmentioned period

4.       Procurement department report

5.       Financial report

 

Activities in the project in the abovementioned period (1st January 2001 – 30th June 2001)

 

The work in the year 2000 can be graded as an exceptionally successful year. During the year 2000 the Project Coordination Unit has contracted 9 (nine) very important contracts, which bear extreme importance to the Old Bridge project.

 

1.      Contract – Geological investigations

2.      Contract – Old Bridge project documentation preparation

3.      Contract – Laboratory tests

4.      Contract – Old Bridge stone cutting operation, phase 1

5.      Contract – Stone cutting supervisor

6.      Contract – Neighbourhood component Buka structure

7.      Contract - Neighbourhood component Eastern wall structure

8.      Contract – Continuation of the work of Mr. Gilles Péqueux, financed by the World Bank

9.      Contract – Training (education) of Mr. Anto Šain, procurement officer

 

In spite of the big difficulties a major number of contracts has been completed and realized, and one part of them is in its final phase. In early 2001. Project Coordination Unit has prepared an extremely ambitious plan of activities for the year 2001. The first contract, which has been signed in the January 2001, is the “Tara and Halebija Tower Rehabilitation” contract.

 

1.       “Tara and Halebija Tower Rehabilitation” contract

 

At the international tender implemented by the Project Coordination Unit with the cooperation of UNESCO and the World Bank, the assignment of the rehabilitation of the Tara and Halebija towers has been awarded to the Omega Engineering company, Republic of Croatia.

On 26th February 2001 Project Coordination Unit signed a contract with Omega Engineering company. The amount of the works is 462.000,00 German marks, and the deadline and the submission of the complete project documentation is 26th September 2001. We would like to point out as well that the sum in question breaks down into the following items: 50% of the amount pertains to the project documentation preparation, and the other 50% relates to the supervision during the building of the towers and the structures covered by the assignment in question. Omega Engineering company has immediately set down to the realization of the abovementioned assignment, and in the first technical meetings held in the February 2001 noted that in the project assignment the work on the archaeology has not been included for the structures in question.

At the meeting were present the representatives of UNESCO who have been maintaining categorically that the archaeology for the abovementioned structures has to be accomplished. Additionally a a big problem is posed by water penetration in the right bank wall, in front of the Halebija tower, so it has been asked that that problem should be considered and to provide the appropriate solution. Omega Engineering  company has been ordered to take all the problematic points into account, and to submit its bid for the additional works.

At the sixth (6th) conference which was held on 06.04.2001. Omega Engineering company presented its first works and asked for the corresponding remarks, in order to accomplish successfully the preliminary designs. With the professional works, and with great dedication it has submitted to the Project Coordination Unit the documentation regarding the preliminary designs for the towers and the structures which are located between the bridge and the towers. After the detailed analyses of the preliminary designs, by the Project Coordination Unit and the experts of UNESCO, on 21.06.2001. remarks have been addressed to the Omega Engineering company in order for them to continue their work without impediments. In order to do the preliminary designs, the archaeological issue has not been solved completely, and there is a concern that the project documentation could not submitted on time. After the sixth (6th) conference of experts came a letter to UNESCO in Sarajevo by Mr. Léon Pressoyre stating that a French city is prepared to finance and to send its archaeologists to work on the towers. Project Coordination Unit has contacted the World Bank immediately, and asked for its opinion for the submitted bid. Project Coordination Unit has expressed its points of view and the views on the proposal of Mr. Pressoyre, and they were that the Omega Engineering company is the performer of the assignment in question, and that the Project Coordination Unit is not allowed to accomplish any activities outside of the contract signed with Omega Engineering company. In any case, Project Coordination Unit has requested the reference lists of the archaeologists in question, but we have not received any reply. On 27.06.2001 the whole problem was presented, and analyzed once again with the project director Mr. Lawrence Hannah, where it was concluded to send a letter asking for the additional resources for the solution of the problematic points in question. World Bank is ready to approve the additional funds to the Omega Engineering company in order for the overall assignment to be accomplished complying to the high quality standards. The Project Coordination Unit will invest its best efforts for the project documentation to be completed within the agreed schedule. According to the timeframe Project Coordination Unit planned on 15.07.2001. the launch of the expression of interest for the building of the towers, in order to accomplish duly the tender for the building and the repair of the towers and the structures between the towers and the bridge. In short no major problems would be encountered, we opine that the Project Coordination Unit by the end of the year 2001 could sign the contract with the future builder of the towers and the structures. Omega Engineering company would supervise the building and the repair of the abovementioned structures, since it has been thus stipulated in the contract.

 

2.       Contract numbered 001/2001 – Old Bridge foundation repair

 

The Old Bridge foundation repair is considered the first phase of the building of the Old Bridge, and at the same time a  very important operation upon which depends the further building of the bridge. In the pre-qualification phase have entered eight (8) companies, but the five (5) companies have submitted the bids for the implementation of the works. After the detailed analysis of the bids which have arrived by the tender committee, the Yapi Merkezi company from Istanbul Republic of Turkey has been nominated as most eligible company. The contract with the company was signed on 26.04.2001, and the amount of the works lasts for six months or 30.10.2001. The preliminary works have been completed: the scaffoldings have been set up, the site ………………. has been prepared, and the programs for the grouting works have been presented. Cavity filling, and the filling of the Old Bridge foundations. As well an agreement with the Elektroprivreda companies (electric energy supply companies from Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Community Herzeg-Bosnia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) have been reached too that during the realization of the works a level of the biological minimum should be established (level 41.50) in order for the works to run smoothly with a high quality level of the accomplished works. We have to point out that the electric energy supply companies have harmonized their standpoints fully, and provided full support in the realization of the abovementioned project.

In July, Project Coordination Unit will hold a meeting with electric energy supply companies regarding the issue of the regulation of the Neretva river water level during the building of the Old Bridge[DP1] .

Since the day of the assembly of the centering, till its disassembly, the Neretva river water level will have to be monitored very closely in order to prevent the unwanted consequences and so forth.

The supervision team comprised of three (3) experts headed by Mr. Gilles Péqueux (BCEOM company representative) wants and strives to accomplish the abovementioned assignment well and respecting high quality standards.

 

3.       Memorandum of Understanding (Project Coordination Unit – Gilles Péqueux)

 

On 13.04.2001 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Mr. Gilles Péqueux, where the assignments of Mr. Gilles Péqueux in the subsequent period of 2001/2002 were stipulated.

The engagement of Mr. Gilles Péqueux in the year of 2001 is far more present compared to the year 2002.

In addition to the supervision at the bridge foundations, Mr. Péqueux is in charge of the following assignments:

 

a)       Project assignment preparation for the building of the bridge

b)       Supervision and the control of the preparation of the project document for the Tara and Halebija towers and the accompanying structures;

c)       Maintenance of the coordination with the companies of LGA and General Engineering;

d)       Monitoring of the cutting stone operation, phase 2

e)       Coordination with the monitoring agency while building of the Old Bridge as the exceptional connoisseur of the comprehensive problematic points at the Old Bridge project.

 

The funds for the engagement of Mr. Gilles Péqueux have been provided by the French government, in the time period of engagement of Mr. Gilles Péqueux in 2001/2002.

Since the memorandum takes into account the engagement of a local expert, and not wanting to pay him from the resources of the French government, so the Project Coordination Unit has asked the World Bank to provide the additional funds for the payment of the domestic expert, and the Project Coordination Unit has carried out the tender procedure where two applicants have registered; Mr. Tomislav Ivankoviæ and Mr. Damir Èorko. The bid of Mr. Ivankoviæ has been much more favourable, so that the Project Coordination Unit in consultation with Mr. Péqueux has accepted Mr. Tomislav Ivankoviæ as the big expert for the grouting works.

 

4.       Contract numbered CCS 003/2001

 

On 24.05.2001. Project Coordination Unit signed a contract with Mr. Tomislav Ivankoviæ, bridge foundation grouting work expert.

The value of his service amounts 25.272.00 US$ and the time of engagement lasts 6 (six) months, namely till the end of the works in the Old Bridge foundation repair.

 

Neighbourhood Component

Works on the neighbourhood component structures could not be accomplished according to schedule, especially the structures located in the vicinity of the Radobolja riverbed.

 

“Buka” structure

Realization of this contract could start only by the end of May, since the Radobolja river has constantly had a high water level, which could not be controlled.

This structure is in its ending phase, so that we expect the technical approval soon.

 

Eastern wall and the western wall

Eastern wall and the western wall are completely finished, so their technical  acceptance has taken place.

 

In June 2001 a preparation of two additional neighbourhood component structures was taking place:

 

“Jusovina” structures

Northwestern side of the Radobolja riverbed

 

Works on these structures are about to start in July and August 2001.

The other programs from the neighbourhood component have been planned for September 2001.

 

As well we would like to point out that the collaboration between the Project Coordination Unit and Aga Khan office and World Monuments' Fund in Mostar at a very high level, which guarantees the ultimate success and the realization of all the eleven (11) structures belonging to the neighbourhood component which have been planned by the Project Coordination Unit – Mostar program.

 

Decisions of the 6th Session of the International Committee

of Experts for the Rebuilding of Stari Most

and the Rehabilitation of the Old Town of Mostar,

4-6 April 2001

 

 

 

The Session was held in the presence of the majority of the ICE members, Mr. Beschaouch, Professors Erder, Kiel and Necipoglu being absent due to prior engagements.

 

After hearing detailed reports by UNESCO, the PCU and the Technical Assistance to the PCU, the ICE proceeded with the agenda.   At the request of one of its members, it was decided to include in the present report remarks made by the experts when they were not in accordance with the decision taken by majority.  Those decisions, whether taken unanimously or by a majority of the members, will be indicated in bold face type.

 

RESULTS OF STONE CUTTING AND THE SITUATION REGARDING PURCHASE OF EXTRA QUANTITIES NEEDED FOR RECONSTRUCTION

 

The ICE, having previously expressed its concern about the stone supply available in KOMOS and the shortage of Tenelija in Mukosa quarry. ( 3rd session, 30 June-1st July 1999), was informed that, after the supervision of stone–cutting process by Mr. Ante Krsinic and the tests performed by Prof.Langof, only 280 blocks amounting to 75 cubic meters of Tenelija stone can be used, an additional 282 cubic meters being needed for the bridge reconstruction (318 cubic meters including  reserve stone in case of damage).

 

Mr.Cisic and Mr. Rozic have submitted this crucial stone issue to the city government, which has decided to purchase the necessary quantity of high quality Tenelija. The geological investigations carried out by Prof. Langof and Mr. Krsinic in the vicinity of the Mukosa quarry have ascertained the presence of a layer of about 10 meters wide and one meter high. It must be noted that this layer, far from being horizontal, follows a steep slope facing south.

           

The ICE, after discussing the report by Prof. Langof and Mr.Krsinic, acknowledges the fact that quarrying in the Mukosa quarry area cannot be performed with the relevant equipment which would avoid waste by cutting the stone according to the slope of the sediment, this equipment not being available on the site.

 

It stresses the necessity, in order to respect the timeframe of the reconstruction project, to start quarrying as soon as possible and to proceed immediately by stone cutting under proper supervision and laboratory tests. The material must be ready before the end of February 2002. This date is absolutely binding for contractual reasons.   

 

FINAL DESIGN – PHOTOGRAMETRY, DESIGN AND CALCULATIONS

 

            The ICE, having heard reports prepared on behalf of General Engineering by Prof. Vignoli and Mr. Romeo, stresses the fact that results of phase B should have been available seventy days before, on 15 December 2000.

 

In order to respect the timeframe of the project, three experts for the ICE, namely Professors Gojkovic, Langof and Mulabegovic, will give by written form their final comments on the last version of the Phase B design before 15th April 2001, at the latest. The documents, updated with their comments, will be submitted to the PCU for final approval.

 

During the drawing up of Technical Specifications and Definition of Unit Prices by the PCU Technical Assistance, the same ICE experts will work closely with the PCU Technical Assistance.  During this phase, the design prepared by General Engineering could be slightly modified.

           

On behalf of General Engineering, Mr. Mela stresses his willingness to co-operate. His team will be available for clarification, if needed, even after the formal acceptance of their final report.

 

LABORATORY TESTS

 

            At the request of LGA, the ICE heard reports from Professors Luigia Binda and Giulia Baronio, of the Politecnico di Milano, in which three different mortars for the Old Bridge were presented:

 

a)       mortar with washed Neretva sand and burned lime, mixed at a ratio of 1:3, giving a compressive strength of 0.84 MPa;

b)      same as a) but Neretva sand is mixed with 2% silica fume, giving a compressive strength of 0.87 MPa;

c)       same mixture, but with 10% silica fume, giving a compressive strength of 4.5 MPa, after 28 days.  

 

The designer requires at least 5 MPa compressive strength.  Prof. Langof stressed that mortar being a basic constructive element of the bridge, its mechanical characteristics should be known, including elasticity modules.

 

            The ICE decided that the mortars should be divided as follows: a) red mortar under the pavement prepared in the traditional way; b) mortar for the arch corresponding to proposal c) of LGA with sufficient retentivity.

 

            The LGA recommendations for pouring techniques were accepted, and ICE proposed that the PCU include LGA recommendations in the technical specifications.

           

            As a personal suggestion, Prof. Ivancevic insisted that Omega Engineering should prepare for testing a number of mortars similar to those used in Dubrovnik on the occasion of the restoration works.

 

TURKISH ARCHIVES

 

The ICE heard a report on the Ottoman archives concerning Stari Most by Professor Mehmet Ibrahimgil, Professor of the History of Art at Gazi University, Ankara.  Prof. Ibrahimgil has found in Istanbul an important document included in the Muhimad Efteri relating the construction of the bridge and showing that the city planning had been started from the bridge itself.

 

Another document is related to the first restoration of the bridge and shows that, as for its construction, the villagers of the vicinity who were working on Stari Most were exempted from taxes.  This decision concerned 23 villages or settlments in the region of Mostar.

 

The ICE expressed its thanks to Prof. Ibrahimgil and to the Turkish government for appointing him for this research job.  It is decided that the ICE will send a list of requirements for further research to Prof. Ibrahimgil through the Sarajevo office of UNESCO.  Meanwhile, a progress report will be sent to the ICE by Prof. Ibrahimgil.

 

TOWERS

 

The ICE, having heard a preliminary report on the restoration of the bridge towers by Mr. Pekovic, on behalf of Omega Engineering, expresses its doubts as to the feasibility of the whole programme in the short time allowed to the company.

 

It is underlined by several members of the Committee that the final functions of the towers and of the adjacent monuments are the responsibility of the city government, after appropriate discussions with the land and real estate owners concerned and that it is therefore premature to define them beforehand.  The ICE expresses its doubts and concerns regarding the use of the towers for museums, galleries, shops or coffee-shops.  The restoration should aim at revealing the architecture of the Tara and Halebija towers, two major monuments which should be understood and visited as an intrinsic part of the bridge complex.

 

At the present stage Omega Engineering must avoid carefully the elimination of 18th- century structures, such as the vault in Tara tower, or the reconstruction of other elements, such as the upper part of the towers with a conjectural roofing of the 15th century.  The philosophy of the restoration is to preserve as much as possible the shape and general aspect of the towers prior to the destruction of the bridge.  Limited interventions concerning roofing, access and circulation will have to be approved by the ICE after submission of a detailed and precise project.

 

On the other hand the ICE again stresses the need for archaeological investigations already underlined on the occasion of the 4th and 5th sessions.  It is necessary to start a comprehensive study, including survey, visual examination of the masonry and excavations of selected areas.  It is also advisable to have recourse to archeometric methods such as dendrochronology in the case of the timber elements to be found in the walls of Halebija tower.

 

Archaeological investigations are an essential part of the contract, which made provisions for the presence of an archaeologist- Prof. Ante Milosevic- in the team.  They cannot be carried out by the team which is working on the drainage system nor by the team which will be drilling pits at the request of Mr. Damir Corko on behalf of the Conex-Yeralti Aramcilik joint venture with a view to preparing the works on the foundations.

 

Within the timeframe of the project, it is obvious that the hydrological investigations must be performed before the beginning of the works on the foundations and that the archaeological investigations must also predate any intervention on the masonry.

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

The ICE decided that in the future all terms of reference for expressions of interest, pre-qualifications and contracts will be discussed and approved by the ICE in order to avoid certain problems encountered in the past.

 

EVALUATION COMMITTEE

 

The ICE discussed the means of improving the pre-qualification and evaluation process. The final document for pre-qualification has to be approved by ICE, before publication in Development Business. It is decided that the members representing the ICE during the evaluation of the pre-qualifications will also sit in the evaluation committee for the appointment of the successful bidder for the reconstruction works. The evaluation committee will consist of 3 members of the ICE and 3 members of the PCU with possible assistance of a mediator if needed.

 

SUPERVISION

 

Concerning the supervision of the strengthening of the foundations, the ICE recommends hiring one of the experts of the companies that have been involved in the geological investigations. The ICE was informed that the supervision is the responsibility of the Technical Assistance to the PCU, which agreed to cover the cost of the above-mentioned expert.

 

An approval for expression of interest concerning the supervision of the bridge reconstruction should be published on 16th April together with the notice for pre-qualification.

 

The ICE suggested that the supervisor will be a qualified restoration architect assisted by experts in the various fields (mortars, stone-cutting and dressing, lead-pouring process, etc.).  It was suggested that experts from the companies that have been involved in preliminary studies could be considered for these assignments.   

 

Acquisition of the additional stone quantities by the City of Mostar

 

The stone quantities, which have been submitted to the supervising agency, to Mr. Ante Kršiniæ have amounted 400 m3.

With a detailed analysis it has been found out that the stone is of very poor quality and that only one part of the stone for the building of the bridge can be utilized.

The supervision has first accomplished the stone selection for the cutting of the arch, and it cut 124 blocks of the arch. Then it set off to the prepare the blocks for the walls of the bridge and in that operation it has cut 164 blocks, which amounts 288 blocks or 78 m3 in total. Large quantities of the stone of “C” category, namely having 10-15% of the utilization coefficient was not sent to be cut, namely we would have a large quanity of waste. Finishing this phase 1 it has been decided to purchase the new “A” class additional stone quantities (high utilization coefficient). The city government has made a decision to purchase the new stone quantities, and to cut all the 800 remaining blocks. A contract regarding the purchase of the first 200 m3 of the “A” class commercial stone has been signed, and the advanced payment has been made too. A supervisor for the control of the cut stone has been appointed in the Mukoša quarry, and the advanced payment has been made too. As well a company for the stone transport from the quarry to the city dump has been appointed, where cutting of the stone to get the ready blocks was to take place. At the same time we would like to stress that the city government has previously purchased 200 m3 of stone tested by the new supervising agency. In order for the stone cutting operation to continue it is necessary to get the approval for the continuation of the works by the Kara-drvo company from Kiseljak, that the works are continued with the price which has been agreed previously. The owner of the abovementioned company has given his approval to the unit price from the signed contract. Since the Project Coordination Unit and the World Bank agreed for the supervising agency controlling the extraction of the new quantities from the Mukoša quarry to supervise the cutting of the stone blocks for the building of the bridge, one of these days we expect the approval of World Bank for the contract signature for the stone cutting supervision continuation  .  The cutting of the remaining 800 blocks bears exceptional importance in order for the future bridge builder to have all the 1088 blocks ready to build the bridge.

In spite of all the difficulties in the city of Mostar and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Project Coordination Unit has accomplished extremely good results. For the results achieved Project Coordination Unit expresses a deep gratitude to the World Bank, UNESCO, Aga Khan Foundation and the World Monuments' Fund, to the Expert team, and to the mayor Mr. Neven Tomiæ and the deputy mayor Mr. Hamdija Jahiæ who make immense efforts in the realization of the Old Bridge project in Mostar.

 

 

 

 [DP1]Problematièno mjesto!