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By Advantages: Minimize Traffic Impacts

Baldorioty de Castro Avenue Overpasses

LocationSan Juan
StatePR
Completion Date1992
DescriptionTo ease congestion on a road that carries more than 100,000 vehicles per day, the Department of Public Works provided two overpasses at each of two intersections: two 700-foot-long overpasses and two 900-foot-long ones. To minimize traffic disruption, the project was built in two stages. Piles were driven and footings cast with special forms to facilitate fast connections. Then the precast components were erected and post-tensioned: box piers positioned and post-tensioned to the footings, caps placed, and piers vertically post-tensioned. When the first two piers were in place (starting from the center of the bridge), the 100-foot-long superstructure box beams, seven per span, were set in place. Using two crews, the overpass then was erected simultaneously from the center span toward each end. Each span then was post-tensioned transversely as it was completed. The first bridge was erected in 36 hours, and the others took as little as 21 hours. The project awarded a Harry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award.
PhotoBaldority de Castro Avenue Overpasses. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other KeywordsPrecast bent caps; precast prestressed deck composite units; precast box piers,precast box piers,prefabricated total superstructure,total superstructure prefabrication,totally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption with rapid bridge construction.
Photo CreditsDepartamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas de Puerto Rico

Beaufort and Morehead Railroad Trestle Bridge

LocationOver Newport River between Morehead City and Radio Island
StateNC
Completion Date1999
Contact PersonJohn Frye P.E.
Project Group Engineer
Structure Design Unit
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Phone: (919) 250-4049
Email: jfrye@dot.state.nc.us
DescriptionA design-build project consisting of ballasted, precast prestressed T-girders spanning transverse, precast reinforced concrete caps, supported on composite piles (24-inch steel pie piles protected by 36-inch concrete cylinder pile sleeves), this project replaced 2,298 feet of trestle-span approaches on existing alignment on each side of a single-leaf rolling bascule span. Trestle spans were replaced during weekly track outages of 4-day duration. The bridge was designed and constructed to AREMA standards and to meet NCDOT's highly-corrosive coastal environment criteria. All environmental documentation and permits, design, construction, and construction engineering and inspection were done by the design-build team.
PhotoBeaufort and Morehead Railroad Trestle Bridge. Click on image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps
Other KeywordsSteel pipe piles, concrete cylinder piles, prestressed girders,precast prestressed cylinder piles,prestressed 'tee' girders,speed of construction
AdvantagesSpeed of construction: The trestle was replaced while serving rail traffic, with individual spans replaced between scheduled trains, Minimized traffic disruption, Improved constructibility.
Contract ElementsLump-sum design-build project
Related Document 1Photographs (PDF, 0.7 mb)
HTML Version
Photo CreditsNorth Carolina Department of Transportation

Church Street Bridge

LocationNew Haven Interlocking and Rail Yard
StateCT
Completion Date2003
Contact PersonLarry D'Addio, P.E.,
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Description

This truss-span bridge is 1,280 ft. long with 8 spans including 320-ft. truss span, 50 ft. high and 60 ft. wide.

The Church Street South Extension project provided a new steel truss bridge over the New Haven Interlocking and Rail Yard, directly linking downtown New Haven and the Long Wharf and waterfront areas. To minimize disruption in the rail yard and improve work-zone safety for a crew working over active rail lines, ConnDot required that this portion of the bridge be completed in a single weekend night.

The 320-ft long, 850 ton prefabricated truss center span was constructed over several months next to the active rail lines and then lifted into place on an early Sunday morning in May 2003 by a single high-capacity crane owned by Lampson International LLC. The crane, which required more than four weeks to assemble, lifted the entire truss span more the 65 ft. and moved it more than 100 ft. to its final position. Specifying prefabrication saved ConnDOT about a year on its overall contract time and at least $1.1 million. Prefabrication of the center span greatly improved constructability for O&G Industries; the center span could not have been built during the limited working hours allowed by the rail yard. Using prefabrication on this project avoided closure of 4 tracks during bridge construction.

PhotoPrefabricated truss center span being lifted into place for Church Street South Extension in New Haven. Click for larger version of image.
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other Keywordstotal superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption,
Related Document 1850 Ton bridge lifted into place by world's largest mobile crane
Photo CreditsConnecticut Department of Transportation

Cross Westchester Expressway Viaducts

LocationI-287 in Westchester County 10 miles north of New York City
StateNY
Completion Date1999
Contact PersonGeorge A. Christian P.E.
Acting Director
Structures Design and Construction Division
New York State Department of Transportation
State Campus Building 5, 6th Floor
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany NY 12232
Phone: (518) 457-6827
Fax: (518) 485-7826
Email: Gchristian@gw.dot.state.ny.us
DescriptionRequired to maintain six lanes of congested traffic and limit construction on a restricted site during replacement of two major I-287 viaducts in Westchester County, the New York State Department of Transportation accepted the contractor's value-engineering proposal to incorporate precast segmental voided pier sections for each of the 42 piers, which consisted of 8-foot match-cast segments vertically post-tensioned together and to the footings. Piers ranged from 20 to 55 feet in height, and a typical pier could be erected in one day. The proposal also changed the cast-in-place deck to 10-foot-long by 9-inch-thick precast panels, 42 to 50 feet wide to match longitudinal construction stages, supported on pairs of multi-span continuous steel tub girders. Up to 15 panels could be erected in a single shift, with 'in-line' erection methods used where side access was not available. Prior to grouting the panels to the girders, the entire deck was post-tensioned longitudinally in a variable pattern that was designed to provide a zero-tension deck under design live loads. The precast deck and pier construction reduced the contract's original 34-month schedule to 26 months.
PhotoPhoto of Cross Westchester Expressway Viaduct. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other KeywordsPrecast segmental match-cast pier units; precast longitudinally post-tensioned deck panels; steel tub girders,full-depth deck panels,precast box piers,totally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing construction time from 34 to 26 months. Improved constructibility by reducing needed access to a site-restricted expressway.
Contract Elements"A+B" bidding and incentive/disincentive provisions.
Photo CreditsNew York State Department of Transportation

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport People Mover

LocationDallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
StateTX
Completion Date2004
Contact PersonKatherine Berkenbile P.E.
STOA/Carlos + Law, AE
Phone: (850) 432-1912
Email: kberkenbile@gcae.com
DescriptionDFW Airport decided to upgrade its Airport People Mover System in order to accommodate new terminals and increased passenger count. The new People Mover will transport people from the farthest terminals in 11 minutes transport time. The cost per day of casting conventional concrete columns with forms and guy wires for the reinforcing is high due to space that would be used on the airport apron. Instead of closing aircraft terminals and gates, the DFW Airport People Mover Team decided to design and build a precast post-tensioned segmental system of columns.
PhotoDallas/Fort Worth International Airport People Mover. Click on image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsColumns
Other KeywordsPrecast post-tensioned segmental columns
AdvantagesAllowed the airport apron to remain clear of guy wires. Allowed column construction to happen at night with minimal disruption of airport traffic, Minimized traffic disruption, Improved constructibility.
Photo CreditsSTOA/Carlos + Law, AE

Dead Run and Turkey Run Bridges

LocationGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
StateVA
Completion Date1998
Contact PersonHala Elgaaly P.E.
Special Projects Engineer
Federal Lands Bridge Office
Federal Highway Administration
21400 Ridgetop Circle
Sterling VA 20166
Phone: (703) 404-6233
Fax: (703) 404-6234
Email: hala.elgaaly@fhwa.dot.gov
DescriptionThe George Washington Memorial Parkway experiences heavy commuter usage from workers travelling from Virginia and Maryland into Washington D.C. The 1996 average daily traffic for the Parkway was 42,800 vehicles, with 53,500 vehicles/day projected for 2016. Because of its heavy commuter use, the bridges over Dead Run and Turkey Run needed to be kept open to traffic on weekdays during replacement of bridge decks. The Dead Run bridge consists of two structures that each carry two lanes of traffic; the bridge is 305 feet long with a 3-span configuration. The Turkey Run bridge is also two structures that each carry two lanes of traffic, and it has a length of 402 feet in a 4-span configuration. Both bridges have an 8-inch concrete deck supported on steel beams with non-composite action. The non-composite aspect of the original design, along with the use of precast concrete post-tensioned full-depth deck panels, facilitated quick deck replacement and allowed the structures to be kept open during weekday traffic. The construction sequence closed the bridge on Friday evening, saw cut the existing deck into transverse sections that included curb and rail, removed the saw cut sections of the deck, set new precast panels, stressed the longitudinal tendons after all panels in a span were erected, grouted the area beneath the panel and above the steel beam, and opened the bridge to traffic by Monday morning. The construction rate was replacement of one span for one bridge per weekend.
PhotoPhoto of bridge construction from the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsFull-depth non-composite decks,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption. Traffic was maintained during weekdays to minimize effect on commuters from Virginia and Maryland into Washington D.C.
Photo CreditsFederal Highway Administration

Epping 13940

LocationMill Street over Lamprey River
StateNH
Completion DateAugust 24, 2004
Contact PersonPeter E. Stamnas, P.E.
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Phone: (603) 271-2731
Email: pstamnas@dot.state.nh.us
Description

The 115' single span butted box precast elements were placed on an entirely precast substructure. Nine precast footings pieces were leveled using leveling screws and then grouted in place. Full moment connections were created between wing and abutment stems to precast footings by means of grouted splice sleeves. The connections were cured overnight, , the substructure was backfilled and the butted box beams were placed. The joints between beams were grouted and transversely post-tensioned. Finally, the deck surface was membraned and paved, and rail was placed. It took less than eight days from the time the first precast footing was lifted from the trailer to the time when the bridge was opened to traffic.

The contract included a 14 day requirement to open bridge to traffic with an incentive/disincentive of $5,000/day. The contractor received a $30,000 incentive bonus.

Photoprecast footings, in place. Click for larger version precast abutment stem and wings erected. Click for larger version precast butted box beams placed on precast abutment stem during erection. Click for larger version completed structure. Click for larger version Offset joints - stem and footing. Click for larger version Grouted splice sleeves and grout gaps to allow grout to flow. Click for larger version
Prefabricated ElementsFootings, wings, abutment stems, and beams, substructures
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed box beams, speed of construction,total substructure prefabrication
AdvantagesRapid assembly time may preclude the need for a detour., traffic disruption

George P. Coleman Bridge

LocationYorktown
StateVA
Completion Date1995
Contact PersonGeorge Clendenin P.E.
Virginia Department of Transportation
Phone: (804) 786-4575
Email: George.Clendenin@VirginiaDOT.org
DescriptionIn 1995, the largest double-swing bridge in the United States was dismantled and replaced in record time. A major goal was limiting bridge closure to avoid disrupting traffic of more than 27,000 vehicles a day. Lighter-weight modern materials allowed Virginia DOT designers to widen the new bridge but use the existing foundation. While approach spans were widened, truss spans were prefabricated nearby and then barged to the construction site. Six old spans were removed and six new ones placed in only nine days.
PhotoPhoto of section of George P. Coleman Bridge. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other KeywordsPrefabricated steel truss spans
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by constructing truss spans off-site and then barging them into place.
Photo CreditsVirginia Department of Transportation

Governor Malcolm E. Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge (Tappan Zee Bridge)

LocationHudson River, about 13 miles north of New York City
StateNY
Contact PersonThruway Authority Public Affairs Office
New York State Department of Transportation
Administrative Headquarters
200 Southern Blvd.
P.O. Box 189
Albany NY 12201-0189
Phone: (518) 436-2700 (Interchange 23)
DescriptionThe 16,000-foot Tappan Zee Bridge carries approximately 130,000 vehicles per day over the Hudson River on the New York State Thruway system. Because it is a critical route for commuters, the New York State Thruway Authority requires that work projects keep all lanes of traffic open for morning and evening rush hour traffic. In 1998, a necessary redecking project for the east deck truss spans began replacement of more than 250,000 square feet of deck in nighttime work, opening all seven lanes to traffic by 6 AM. The project used proprietary full-depth deck panels, 7 ½ in. thick overall. 1200 exodermic panels were required, typically 24 ft. x 12 ft. or 18 ft. x 12 ft. and weighing 18,000-13,000 lbs.
PhotoPhoto of construction on the Governor Malcolm E. Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge (Tappan Zee Bridge). Click for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsExodermic deck panels,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: Exodermic deck panels allowed rapid placement of the panels, which provide the durability of reinforced concrete but weigh 35-50% less.

Highway 47 over Seelye Brook

LocationAnoka County
StateMN
Completion Date2001
Contact PersonPaul Kivisto P.E.
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Phone: (651) 747-2130
Email: paul.kivisto@dot.state.mn.us
DescriptionThis bridge replacement project required a shallow structure that was durable, economical, and quick to construct because no detour route was available. The Minnesota Department of Transportation opted for a low depth, rectangular precast beam system because the cast-in-place deck option would have required falsework below the structure that would have been susceptible to flood waters. The bridge has a 51-foot beam span, and the nine-inch deck is supported by the solid rectangular prestressed beams. Because the beams were shallow rather than the deeper I-shaped sections, they also eliminated the need to raise the existing profile grade and satisfied hydraulic and right-of-way constraints for the project.
PhotoHighway 47 over Seelye Brook
Other KeywordsPrecast solid rectangular prestressed beams
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing the time needed to construct falsework for the cast-in-place deck.
Related Document 1Superstructure and Beam Detail Drawings (PDF, 0.5 mb)
HTML Version:
Photo CreditsMinnesota Department of Transportation

I-10 over Lake Pontchartrain

LocationNew Orleans
StateLA
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonLynn Marsalone, P.E.,
(504) 278-7457
DescriptionThis project replaced a bridge span 65 ft long and 46 ft. wide. As part of a project that included construction of several emergency crossovers between existing twin spans, realignment of 9 existing spans, and approach slab repairs, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) removed and replaced an entire 350-ton span. With its 7.5-inch concrete slab cast on precast prestressed concrete girders, the new span was built on a barge on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and then moved to the bridge site. The single span removal and replacement cost only about 8% of the total project cost under this contract, which allowed the contractor a period of 24 consecutive hours of roadway closure for span removal and replacement under an incentive/disincentive clause. Work was completed in the summer of 2002. The superstructure span was totally prefabricated, and crews removed the old span and replaced it with the new one on a single Saturday in much less time than the contract allowed. Prefabrication enabled LA DOTD to minimize closure of I-10, the main artery into New Orleans and the Gulf coast with average daily traffic of 48,032 vehicles. Prefabrication enabled Johnson Brothers' Louisiana Team to complete its work on the span in less than 24 hours and earn the maximum $20,000 incentive award. Prefabrication minimized traffic disruption for users of the bridge. The designated alternate detour for westbound traffic to New Orleans was approximately 100 miles.
PhotoPrefabricated span being lifted into place for I-10 over Lake Pontchartrain Bridge in Louisiana. Click for larger version of image
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other Keywordstotal superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsFederal Highway Administration

I-45/Pierce Elevated

LocationDowntown Houston
StateTX
Completion Date1997
Contact PersonKenneth L. Ozuna P.E.
Texas Department of Transportation
Phone: (713) 802-5435
Email: kozuna@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionWhen a 113-span section of IH 45 in Houston's central business district needed replacing, designers estimated that a conventional bridge system would require more than a year and a half of construction. Estimating user delay costs at $100,000 a day, TxDOT opted to speed construction by using precast bent caps on the existing columns. The bridge consists of twin structures, one northbound and one southbound, and each structure was completed in 95 days, a total of 226 spans replaced in 190 days. To connect the precast caps to the existing columns, the precast caps were anchored with post-tensioning bars and hardware.
PhotoPhoto of construction on I-45/Pierce Elevated highway. Click image for larger version.
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps; decks
Other KeywordsPrecast bent caps; precast prestressed deck panels; precast prestressed I-beams,precast deck panels with topping slab,precast pretensioned partial-depth deck panels,speed of construction
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: construction time was reduced from an estimated 1.5 years to 190 days, with user delay costs estimated at $100,000/day.
Related Document 1Cap-to-Column Connection Detail Drawings (PDF, 0.5 mb)
HTML Version:
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

I-5/South 38th Street Interchange

LocationTacoma
StateWA
Completion Date2001
Contact PersonJoseph Merth P.E.
Washington State Department of Transportation
Phone: (360) 705-7166
Email: merthjo@wsdot.wa.gov
DescriptionTo reduce construction time and minimize traffic disruption, the Washington State Department of Transportation chose precast stay-in-place deck panels in the design of this two-span, 325-foot replacement bridge over I-5 in Tacoma. The new post-tensioned box girder bridge uses precast tub girder segments. With no need to construct and remove conventional deck forms, lane closures on I-5 were greatly reduced. Leveling screws were used to adjust camber on the 3-1/2-inch-thick precast pretensioned panels, and all 766 panels were placed within a week of limited nighttime I-5 lane closures.
PhotoPhoto of construction of I-5/South 38th Street Interchange bridge. Click image for larger view.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsPrecast stay-in-place deck panels; precast post-tensioned tub girders,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing construction time.
Photo CreditsWashington State Department of Transportation

I-65/I-59 Interchange

LocationBirmingham
StateAL
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonFred Conway P.E.
Alabama Department of Transportation
Phone: (334) 242-6007
Email: conwayf@dot.state.al.us
DescriptionWhen a fuel truck collision damaged a Birmingham bridge in the I-65/I-59 interchange, the Alabama Department of Transportation opted for a wider replacement bridge with a longer span over the northbound lanes of I-65, the main north-south route through Alabama. The interchange carries an estimated 100,000 vehicles per day, and the bridge needed to be replaced quickly. For the 140-foot main span and the 75-foot approaches, the contractor proposed a value-engineering girder re-design using AASHTO BT-54 Modified Bulb Tee girders with a 14-day strength of 8,000 psi. Traffic was stopped on I-65 north for only 12 nighttime hours to set the 15 girders on the 140-foot span overhead. Construction was completed in just 37 days.
PhotoPhoto of precast prestressed girders on the I-65/I-59 Interchange bridge. Click image for larger version.
Other Keywordsprecast prestressed girders (long span)
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing construction time and limiting lane closures.
Contract ElementsThe contract time was set at 90 calendar days with a penalty of $25,000 per day for finishing late and a reward of $25,000 per day for finishing ahead of the 90-day deadline.
Photo CreditsAlabama Department of Transportation

I-95/Chester Creek

StatePA
Completion Date1998
Contact PersonR. Scott Christie P.E.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Phone: (717) 787-2881
Email: schrist@dot.state.pa.us
DescriptionOn Memorial Day weekend in 1998, a fuel truck caught fire, closing the 358-foot long, 3-span continuous bridge at I-95 and Chester Creek. Severe sagging required the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to replace approximately two-thirds of the superstructure. Shop drawings of the original girders were available, facilitating immediate material order and fabrication. New girders were delivered within two weeks of the fire, and the bridge was open by July 4th.
Other KeywordsSteel plate girders.
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by rapid bridge replacement.

I-95/James River Bridge

LocationRichmond
StateVA
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonDina N. Kukreja P.E.
Virginia Department of Transportation
Phone: (804) 786-5172
Email: Dina.Kukreja@VirginiaDOT.org
DescriptionMinimal impact on motorists was a project goal for replacement of the superstructure of the I-95 James River Bridge, which carries approximately 110,000 vehicles per day through the city of Richmond. After considering alternatives, Virginia DOT opted for night-only construction, most of which occurred between 7 PM and 6 AM Sunday through Thursday nights. During nighttime construction, one lane of traffic was kept open in each direction. For most spans, bridge preconstructed composite units (PCU's), which include an 8-¾-inch deck over steel plate girders, were precast at a nearby casting yard and then transported to the work site. Work crews cut out the old bridge span and removed it, prepared the gap for the new PCU, and set the new PCU in place.
PhotoPhoto of construction on I-95/James River Bridge. Click image for large view
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other KeywordsPreconstructed composite units consisting of precast 8-¾-inch deck over steel-plate girders,prefabricated total superstructure,total superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by facilitating replacement of the bridge superstructure without ever closing the highway to rush hour traffic.
Contract ElementsA system of incentives for early completion and disincentives (charges) for failure to restore all traffic lanes by specific hours of the day.
Photo CreditsVirginia Department of Transportation

I-95/Westmoreland Street Viaduct

LocationPhiladelphia
StatePA
Completion Date1996
Contact PersonHarold Rogers P.E.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Phone: (717) 787-3767
Email: rogersh@dot.state.pa.us
DescriptionIn March 1996, tires stored under this 1,707-foot long, 8-lane viaduct in Philadelphia caught fire and severely damaged the superstructure in three spans. Southbound lanes were closed, and less-damaged northbound lanes were shored and re-opened to four lanes of two-way traffic. The Governor declared a disaster emergency because of estimated user costs created by detouring I-95's 150,000 vehicles per day onto local streets. Using precast prestressed I-beams and expedited emergency procedures, PennDOT rebuilt the three spans and reopened the bridge to traffic just 126 days after the fire.
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed I-beams
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, saving about 4 months at estimated user costs of $1 million/day.

IH70/Lake St. Louis Boulevard Bridge

LocationIH70 over Lake St. Louis Bridge in St. Charles County
StateMO
Completion Date2003
Contact PersonGhanshyam Gupta, P.E.,
Missouri Department of Transportation,
(573) 751-4676
DescriptionTo reduce congestion on the IH70/Lake St. Louis Boulevard Bridge in St. Charles County, the Missouri Department of Transportation opted for widening it and then accepted a contractor's value-engineering proposal to rebuild the bridge using prefabrication, replacing the four-span bridge with two spans. Although costs increased, the proposal offered both short- and long-term benefits. Work on the new bridge completed in late 2003. The new bridge used precast deck and beam sections and puzzle wall abutments, which allowed a design with fewer spans. With the prefabrication redesign, MoDOT reduced construction time by several months. By reducing the number of spans, geometrics of the interchange improved, increasing its safety and efficiency. Fewer spans also result in lower maintenance costs. By eliminating the need for formwork, which would have reduced clearance on IH70 but was required for a widening in place of the old bridge, the value-engineering proposal using prefabrication greatly improved work zone safety by reducing the amount of time workers had to operate in low-clearance conditions. With prefabrication facilitating faster construction, bridge users were spared several months of inconvenience, and IH70 users were spared a period of reduced vertical clearance. Motorist safety increased because falsework towers were not needed in the outside shoulders. Additionally, the new structure is more aesthetically appealing.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other Keywordsprecast deck panels (lightweight)
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, work-zone safety

Illinois Route 29 over Sugar Creek

Location1 mile east of Springfield, in Sangamon County
StateIL
Completion Date2001
Contact PersonTom Domagalski P.E.
Illinois Department of Transportation
Phone: (217) 785-2913
Email: domagalskitj@nt.dot.state.il.us
DescriptionThis project required redecking an existing five-span bridge 77.13 meters long. The bridge consisted of a simple-span unit at 12.48 meters, a two-span continuous unit with both at 18.25 meter, and another two-span continuous unit at 12.95 and 12.88 meters. The existing steel beams were reused and made composite with the precast deck panels. The bridge was 11.4 meters wide. The concrete deck panels (f'c = 35 MPa) were 195 millimeters in depth, 11.3 meters in width, and typically 2.5 meters in length. A total of 29 panels were laid across the length of the bridge. Panels used shear keys between the panels and were post-tensioned longitudinally with 25.4-millimeter-diameter high-strength steel bars at 462-millimeter centers.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsFull depth, full width, precast post-tensioned concrete deck panels,precast concrete New Jersey parapets,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic delays by speeding up the construction time, Minimized traffic disruption.

Keaiwa Stream Bridge

LocationRoute 11 near Pahala
StateHI
Completion Date2000
Contact PersonPaul Santo P.E.
Hawaii Department of Transportation
Phone: (808) 692-7611
Email: paul_santo@exec.state.hi.us
DescriptionA record rainstorm in late 2000 caused major damage to the only route on the southeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation chose to replace the 80-foot Route 11 bridge near Pahala with a longer structure to prevent future damage from flooding. The new 7-span, 230-foot concrete bridge, using precast prestressed concrete planks with cast-in-place concrete topping, was in operation within seven months.
PhotoPhoto of construction on Keaiwa Stream Bridge. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other Keywords4-foot-wide by 11-inch-thick precast prestressed concrete deck planks,precast deck panels with topping slab, precast pretensioned partial-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing construction time and limiting lane closures.; Minimized environmental disruption because deck topping did not require shoring or falsework in the streambed, and minimized traffic disruption because precast planks were fabricated during pier construction.
Photo CreditsHawaii Department of Transportation

Lewis and Clark Bridge

LocationSR 433 across the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington State
StateWA
Completion Date2004
Contact PersonJerry Weigel, P.E.,
Washington State Department of Transportation,
(360) 705-7207
DescriptionThis full-depth precast deck replacement was for a steel truss bridge 5,478 ft. long and 34 ft. wide with 34 spans. A joint project by the Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation to widen and replace the deteriorating deck on this historic 1929 steel truss bridge allowed full closures between 9:30 pm and 5:30 am for only 120 nights, plus 4 weekend closures. Alternative plans to replace the bridge deck would have required replacing it lane by lane (4 years), full closure of the bridge for several months, or full closure every weekend for 6 months. The contractor was able to meet scheduling constraints by using prefabricated deck panels-a large transport device moved the new panel to the top of the bridge, removed the old panel that crews had just cut out, and then lowered the new panel into place before taking the old panel off the bridge. Work will be completed by December 2004. The majority of the existing bridge deck was replaced with precast concrete deck panels made of lightweight concrete with a modified concrete overlay supported by two longitudinal steel stringers with intermediate transverse stringers. The bridge also used prefabricated widening sections supported by a single longitudinal steel girder. In addition, the project included precast approach slabs. Oregon and WS DOT extended the life of the bridge by an estimated 25 years. In addition, prefabrication allowed inspection of the new deck before installation without use of specialized equipment. For Max J. Kuney Company of Spokane, use of prefabricated elements and systems reduced workers exposure to traffic during construction and improved the constructibility of the bridge. Use of prefabrication allowed the bridge to remain open for normal weekday operation, particularly important for traffic related to the Port of Longview.
PhotoNew deck for the Lewis and Clark Bridge over the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington State. Click for larger version of image.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other Keywordsfull-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, constructibility, work-zone safety
Photo CreditsWashington State Department of Transportation

Lions' Gate Suspension Bridge

LocationFirst Narrows, Vancouver
StateBC
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonGeoff Freer
Regional Director
Northern Region
Ministry of Transportation
213 - 1011 4th Avenue
Prince George Vancouver V2L 3H9
British Columbia
Phone: (250) 565-6478
Email: Geoff.Freer@gems3.gov.bc.ca
Description

The Lions' Gate Suspension Bridge arches 60 meters above Vancouver's First Narrows, connecting communities on both sides of Burrard Inlet. More than 60 years of constant traffic and corrosive deicing treatments left the steel and concrete roadway in need of improvements. A distinguished landmark, it has average daily traffic of between 60,000 and 70,000 vehicles.

Beginning in 1999, a rehabilitation project included replacement of the three-lane bridge deck and trusses encompassing widened lanes for traffic, widened sidewalks for cyclists and pedestrians, and seismic strengthening, as well as a complete upgrade of the traffic control system and lighting. The deck and trusses were replaced simultaneously while allowing traffic to use the bridge during replacement. Most of the reconstruction occurred during 10-hour shifts at night. Individual deck sections between 10 and 20 meters long were cut away and lowered with a jacking traveler (a gantry-like platform that attached directly to the suspenders of the bridge) to a waiting barge, and the replacement section was lifted into place. When assembled on the bridge, each section was connected to its neighboring section with more than 700 high-strength steel bolts. The first of 54 sections was replaced the weekend of September 9 and 10, 2000, and the final one was replaced the weekend of September 29 and 30, 2001.

PhotoLions' Gate Suspension Bridge. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: No lane closures were scheduled during peak weekday hours.
Photo CreditsBritish Columbia Ministry of Transportation

Main Street over Metro North Railroad

LocationTuckahoe
StateNY
Completion Date2000
Contact PersonGeorge A. Christian P.E.
Acting Director
Structures Design and Construction Division
New York State Department of Transportation
State Campus Building 5, 6th Floor
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany NY 12232
Phone: (518) 457-6827
Fax: (518) 485-7826
Email: Gchristian@gw.dot.state.ny.us
DescriptionReplacement of a through-girder bridge over a busy commuter railroad in the village of Tuckahoe presented challenges for NYSDOT: maintaining two way traffic, conducting all work between 2 and 4 AM on weekends to limit disruptions for rail commuters and adjacent stores, maintaining utility lines while relocating them on the new bridge, and raising the railroad vertical clearance five inches without affecting the street profile. NYSDOT chose a commercial system of precast prestressed concrete/steel composite superstructure modules that allowed for smaller beams than conventional construction, which helped attain the increased vertical clearance and had a short installation time.
PhotoMain Street over Metro North Railroad. Click image for larger view.
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed concrete and steel composite superstructure units,precast prestressed deck composite units,prefabricated total superstructure,total superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesImproved constructibility by allowing staged construction over a busy commuter railroad, Minimized traffic disruption.
Photo CreditsNew York State Department of Transportation

Maritime Off-Ramp at I-80 and I-880

LocationOakland
StateCA
Completion Date1997
Contact PersonAlfred R. Mangus, P.E.
California Department of Transportation
1801 30th Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 227-8926
Al_Mangus@dot.ca.gov
Description

The Maritime Off-Ramp at the intersection of I-80 and I-880 in Oakland, North America's first curved welded steel orthogonal isotropic bridge, provides access to the Port of Oakland through a U-turn from westbound I-80. The ramp is 2,356 ft long and has a 250-ft radius horseshoe shape. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) chose steel bridges to minimize traffic delays during bridge erection. Designers selected a closed cell structure for the horseshoe shape of the bridge as the most economical shape to resist torsional forces. The substructure includes reinforced concrete "T" bents with a single column with spiral reinforcing ties. Two special bearings connect the superstructure to each "T" bent.

The contractor fabricated 13 full-bridge-width orthogonal isotropic sections 7 ft 0 in deep by 35 ft 6 in wide up to 37 ft 6 in wide, with lengths ranging from 123 to 219 ft per section. All sections shipped with a steel orthogonal isotropic deck and with installed steel barrier rails. All fabricated steel totaled 5,014 tons.

Installation included special heavy-lift hydraulic platforms to move the bridge sections. Each of the 13 bridge sections was moved three times: from the fabrication facility to the barge, from the barge to the staging area beside the freeway, and from the staging area into its final location. The sections were staged on the east side of the freeway and crossed over during night erection during a 10-hr window beginning at midnight on a Saturday. The contractor faced stiff fines for each minute exceeding the time limit. Installation of three of the sections required closing half of the freeway lanes, below which approximately 500,000 vehicles cross per day. The segment over the westbound lanes was erected around midnight on one Saturday night, and the segment over the eastbound lanes was erected the following Saturday night.

Unique seismic detailing includes use of rubber dock fenders as seismic shock absorbers to reduce forces between completed bridge sections. Poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene (PTFE) spherical bearings allow for rotation and expansion of members and can resist high lateral forces, including seismic forces. A central shear key provides additional lateral capacity.

PhotoTowing of maritime off-ramp unit by fabricator. Click for larger version
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure
Other KeywordsOrthotropic steel superstructure,total superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsCaltrans

Mississippi River Bridge

LocationUS 14/61/WIS 16 over the Mississippi River
StateWI
Completion Date2003
Contact PersonStephen Flottmeyer, P.E.,
Wisconsin Department of Transportation,
(608) 785-9075
DescriptionThis bridge is 2,573 ft long and 50 ft. wide with 475-ft steel arch center span with a totally prefabricated superstructure system. To provide safer and more efficient access to downtown La Crosse and into Minnesota, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) decided to build a new bridge across the Mississippi River, changing US 14/61/WIS 16 from a two-lane to a four-lane facility. WisDOT opted to use a central prefabricated tied arch section and float it into place before connecting it to the permanent bridge piers. The arch was installed on December 17th, 2003. The bridge elements were fabricated 90 miles from the site in pieces manageable for shipping and erection. They were then assembled entirely off site on barges. The 475-ft long and 87-ft high center-span steel arch superstructure was finally floated into place. The prefabrication allowed WisDOT to keep the main channel of the Mississippi River open to all river traffic during construction per Coast Guard requirements. It also allowed the contractor to work on both the river piers and the arch simultaneously, speeding the construction schedule. Contract specification did not allow temporary falsework structures in the Mississippi River during navigation season. Erecting the tied arch on barges allowed Lunda Construction Company crews to work during favorable weather without interference with river navigation. Use of prefabrication minimized impact on the community, speeding construction of the bridge and limiting disruption of river traffic.
PhotoConstruction of prefabricated steel arch center span for US 14/61/WIS 16 across the Mississippi River. Click for larger version of image.
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other Keywordstotally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, constructibility
Photo CreditsWisconsin Department of Transportation

NASA Road 1 over I-45

LocationHouston
StateTX
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonJohn P. Vogel P.E.
Bridge Design Engineer
Houston District
Texas Department of Transportation
8100 Washington Avenue
Houston TX 77251-1386
Phone: (713) 802-5235
Fax: (713) 802-5350
Email: jvogel1@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionFor replacement of this four-span, two-lane, freeway overpass, the existing profile grade could not be raised. Designers chose box beams, which provided a shallow structure depth and eliminated most deck formwork. Careful control of pile leads for plumb during 24-inch pile driving in soft clay allowed placement of piles without templates to within 2 inches of plan location. High-performance concrete was used to pour shear keys between the beams and the concrete wearing surface, and use of a concrete wearing surface readily accounted for differential beam camber. Bridge railing was slip-formed as soon as the composite concrete wearing surface achieved strength. All construction occurred during short-duration, partial, phased road closures. The existing low-clearance bridge was demolished and the new bridge completed in 10 days.
PhotoPhoto of NASA Road 1 over I-45
Prefabricated ElementsColumns
Other KeywordsPrecast piles/columns; precast prestressed beams,precast concrete piles/columns,precast prestressed box beams
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: Trestle piles could be driven in the soft Houston clay faster than shafts could be drilled and columns poured.
Contract ElementsCalendar-day definition of working day, incentive/disincentive contract, milestone completion of project phases, delayed start time to allow for fabrication of precast elements.
Related Document 1NASA Road 1 over I-45 Bridge Layout (PDF, 0.3 mb)
HTML Version
Related Document 2Keys to Project Success
Related Document 3High-Performance Mix Designs
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge over I 76

LocationInterstate 76 just east of the US Route 202 Interchange in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County
StatePA
Contact PersonAndrew Warren P.E.
District Administrator
District 6
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Phone: (610) 205-6660
DescriptionThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation had a 240-foot long, 42-foot high, 740-ton steel truss railroad bridge built adjacent to Interstate 76 and then rolled into place over a weekend in October 2002. The new bridge is part of a multi-year project to widen US 202, which carries between 70,000 and 105,000 vehicles daily, and to improve key interchanges. The truss was built on steel mats that supported the dead load and large flange beams. To move it, crews erected a steel support tower on I 76's westbound side and a runway system to prepare for rolling out the truss bridge. They raised the truss onto four 330-ton Hillman rollers and used hydraulic winches to pull it to its final position over the expressway. The steel truss structure is only half of the new railroad bridge: the other half is being built in place adjacent to I 76's eastbound lanes and has no impact on traffic.
PhotoPhoto of section of Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge over I 76. Click image for larger view.
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption.

Northeast 8th Street Bridge

LocationNE 8th over IH 405 in Bellevue
StateWA
Completion Date2004
Contact PersonJerry Weigel, P.E.,
Washington State Department of Transportation,
(360) 705-7207
DescriptionThis bridge is 328 ft. long and 121.5 ft. wide. When the Northeast 8th Street bridge over busy IH405 in Bellevue needed to be replaced, the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) chose a total prefabrication design that allowed it to stage the bridge beside the highway during construction and then move it into place. The south half of the new bridge was constructed in a temporary location south of the old bridge, and then traffic eastbound traffic was shifted onto the new portion while the north half of the old bridge was removed and rebuilt. Next, traffic was shifted onto the new north half, and the old south portion was demolished. Finally, the new south half was jacked off its temporary piers and rolled into place. The contractor moved the 2,200 ton structure in about 12 hours. Completed in 2004, the longer and higher total prefabrication bridge will accommodate widening of IH405 and accessibility conveniences for a new interchange just south of it. Choosing prefabrication over conventional reconstruction allowed WSDOT to avoid taking the bridge out of commission for up to a year or reducing its capacity by one-half for even longer. Atkinson Construction customized techniques to accommodate prefabrication requirements to minimize traffic disruption for downtown Bellevue. The total prefabrication construction caused relatively few disruptions to area drivers, with most closures limited to nights and select weekends and resulted in a wider, safer bridge with more lanes of traffic.
PhotoConstruction underway on the Northeast 8th Street Bridge in Bellevue, Washington. Click for larger version of image
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other Keywordstotally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsWashington State Department of Transportation

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

LocationOn I-580 between Richmond and San Rafael
StateCA
Completion Date2004
Contact PersonInyang, P.E.,
California Department of Transportation,
(510) 231-7828
Description

This precast superstructure system with precast caps hells and piles includes 2 bridges 3,624 ft. and 2,843 ft. long and 44 ft. wide.

These 1956 bridges connect Marin and Contra Costa Counties in California. When heavy traffic and exposure to the marine environment necessitated replacement of the existing structures on the same alignments, the California Department of Transportation selected prefabrication. Allowing two lanes of traffic on both structures at all times during the day, the construction sequence closes one structure for 10 hours maximum at night. Crews install new piles outside the travel lanes of the existing bridge, install new precast prestressed bent cap shells on the piles, and pour concrete and then prestress the caps. Then crews start from the abutment using a barge-mounted crane to sequentially replace the superstructure. Two spans totaling 100 ft of existing superstructure are lifted out, and a new span is installed. Crews then install a 25-ft transition span to close the offset between new and old bents, and by morning traffic is running again. After installing four new spans, crews stress them together to make a 400-ft. continuous unit. Work on the westbound bridge will complete in Fall 2004, and work on the eastbound bridge will complete in Spring 2005.

This project uses 500-ton 100-ft precast superstructure system, precast prestressed cap shells, and piles. The use of prefabrication provided the California Department of Transportation with a new bridge that meets seismic codes with minimal traffic disruption. By fabricating off site, Tutor Saliba/Koch/Tidewater JV was better able to control quality and safety. Prefabrication enables users to access the bridge constantly, with limited disruption only at night.

PhotoInstallation of deck panels on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in California Photo Credit: California Department of Transportation Click for larger version of image
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other Keywordstotally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, constructibility
Photo CreditsCalifornia Department of Transportation

Richville Road Bridge

LocationManchester
StateVT
Completion Date2001
Contact PersonLee Krohn,
Town of Manchester,
(802) 362-1313
Description

This single-span bridge 69 ft. long and 32 ft. 8 in. wide has a concrete deck on steel girders.

The superstructure of the Richville Road Bridge in the Town of Manchester, Vermont, was in poor condition, but the existing abutments were in good enough shape to be reused with only minimal repairs. The Town limited bridge closure time to 14 days and then compared chose bridge prefabrication after comparing costs.

Bridge designers chose total superstructure prefabrication with the Inverset SystemTM constructed off-site and transported to the site on trucks and lifted into place by a crane. Each of three prefabricated units consisted of two rolled beams with a precast reinforced concrete bridge deck. In place, the three units provided a complete superstructure except for the sheet membrane, paving, curb, and railing. Richville Road was closed for only the specified 14 days.

Use of total superstructure prefabrication saved the Town of Manchester approximately $20,000 over conventional construction plus a temporary bridge. Use of prefabrication enabled Dubois & King, Inc., to meet the Town of Manchester's 14-day closure requirement. In addition, the contractor received the American Consulting Engineers Council of Vermont's 2001 Grand Award for Engineering Excellence in Transportation for design of the bridge. Because of the prefabrication, bridge users avoided a lengthy detour with its resulting traffic disruption, travel costs, and time delays.

PhotoProprietary prefabricated superstructure segment being lifted into place for Richville Road Bridge in Manchester, Vermont. Click for larger version of image
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other Keywordstotal superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsVermont Department of Transportation

Route 57 over Wolf River

LocationFayette County
StateTN
Completion Date1999
Contact PersonEdward P. Wasserman P.E.
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Phone: (615) 741-3351
Email: Ed.Wasserman@state.tn.us
DescriptionThe Wolf River Bridge in Fayette County, Tennessee, crosses sensitive wetlands and carries the only east-west route through its geographic region. For the 20-span replacement bridge, the Tennessee Department of Transportation chose staged construction, maintaining one lane of traffic with timed signals. TDOT designers selected precast prestressed beams to facilitate speedy construction and allowed optional stay-in-place precast prestressed concrete deck forms. TDOT and the contractor developed details for precasting bent caps in two pieces to suit staged construction. Construction of the 1,408-foot long, 46-foot wide bridge was completed in eleven months without putting any equipment in the surrounding wetlands.
PhotoRoute 57 over Wolf River
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps; decks
Other KeywordsPrecast bent caps; precast prestressed concrete stay-in-place deck forms; precast prestressed I beams; steel pipe piles,precast deck panels with topping slab,precast prestressed I-beams,precast pretensioned partial-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized environmental disruption by eliminating the need to place equipment in surrounding wetlands, and minimized traffic disruption of an important east-west corridor.
Contract Elements"A" plus "B" format was used. The "A" portions of the bids reflected prices for construction items. The "B" portion required the contractor to identify the number of calendar days needed to complete construction, which was then multiplied by a pre-determined price per day established by the owner.
Photo CreditsTennessee Department of Transportation

Route 7 over Route 50

LocationFairfax County
StateVA
Completion Date1999
Contact PersonNicholas J. Roper P.E.
Virginia Department of Transportation
Phone: (703) 383-2117
Email: Nicholas.Roper@VirginiaDOT.org
DescriptionReplacement of the Route 7 over Route 50 bridges in Fairfax County required VirginiaDOT to replace approximately 14,000 square feet of deteriorating bridge deck. VirginiaDOT opted to use precast deck panels to satisfy community concerns about reductions in the level of service. Operating only at night, crews saw cut sections of the existing deck, lifted and removed them by crane, and immediately installed new deck panels that matched the deck cavity. They then placed a rapid-setting concrete overlay that supported full traffic after only three hours of curing. The bridge was completely open to traffic during the day.
PhotoRoute 7 over Route 50
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsPrecast deck panels (lightweight)
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption by reducing construction time and minimized equipment needed and dead load on the existing structure.
Photo CreditsVirginia Department of Transportation

Route 9/Metro North Pedestrian Bridge

LocationCroton-on-the-Hudson
StateNY
Completion Date1998
Contact PersonGeorge A. Christian P.E.
Acting Director
Structures Design and Construction Division
New York State Department of Transportation
State Campus Building 5, 6th Floor
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany NY 12232
Phone: (518) 457-6827
Fax: (518) 485-7826
Email: Gchristian@gw.dot.state.ny.us
DescriptionBuilding a pedestrian bridge in the village of Croton-on-the-Hudson involved site restrictions, a requirement for aesthetic design, and the need to limit disruption on a heavily traveled highway and a major commuter railroad. NYSDOT chose two commercial prefabricated composite superstructure spans with concrete parapets to bridge the 4-lane highway, service road, and five sets of railroad tracks. Twelve-inch diameter precast piles support 3-section piers made of precast boxes stacked vertically and post-tensioned to a cast-in-place concrete footing. Ramps are 35-foot-long precast concrete units and 20-foot precast stair sections, supported directly on precast columns with cast-in-place seats. Precast concrete's many available architectural treatments enabled meeting project aesthetic goals.
PhotoRoute 9/Metro North Pedestrian Bridge
Prefabricated ElementsTotal prefab bridges
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed concrete/steel superstructure units; precast box pier units; precast prestressed cylinder piles; precast ramp sections; precast stair sections; precast crash walls;concrete cylinder pile,precast box piers,precast prestressed deck composite units,prefabricated total superstructure,total superstructure prefabrication,totally prefabricated bridges
AdvantagesImproved constructibility and minimized disruption of traffic by reducing the staging area required and reducing construction time, Minimized traffic disruption.
Photo CreditsNew York State Department of Transportation

SH 249/Louetta Road Overpass

LocationHouston
StateTX
Completion Date1994
Contact PersonMary Lou Ralls P.E.
State Bridge Engineer
Bridge Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin TX 78701-2483
Phone: (512) 416-2183
Fax: (512) 416-3144
Email: mralls@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionIn the early 1990's Texas State Highway 249 was upgraded from a four-lane, at-grade road to a limited-access freeway. Consequently, two overpass structures were built at Louetta Road to carry three lanes in each direction, plus shoulders and ramp transitions. The superstructure consists of simple-span pretensioned trapezoidal-shaped 54-inch U-beams as well as precast pretensioned deck panels supported on the U-beams' top flanges with a cast-in-place composite concrete topping. The bridges are three spans each, nominally 130 ft. per span. At the interior bents, each beam is supported by a single post-tensioned pier. All beams and piers were designed and fabricated using high-performance/high-strength concrete.
PhotoSH 249/Louetta Road Overpass
Prefabricated ElementsTotal substructure systems; decks
Other KeywordsPrecast pretensioned partial-depth deck panels, precast post-tensioned piers, pretensioned U-beams,precast prestressed U-beams
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

SH 361 over Redfish Bay and Morris-Cummings Cut

LocationAransas County
StateTX
Completion Date1994
Contact PersonLloyd M. Wolf P.E.
Design Branch Manager
Bridge Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin TX 78701
Phone: (512) 416-2279
Fax: (512) 416-2557
Email: lwolf@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionThis project required construction of two bridges over Redfish Bay (2,020 ft.) and the Morris-Cummings Cut (415 ft.), posing the challenge of over water work on the Texas Gulf Coast. The design included precast piling as well as a precast double-tee superstructure with 44 identical bent caps, which the contractor requested to precast. Bent caps were fabricated in Corpus Christi and used epoxy-coated reinforcing to protect against corrosion in the marine environment. They were transported by barge to the bridge site and then lifted into place over epoxy-coated reinforcing steel hairpin bars embedded in the piling to form the connections. The interface between pile and the bottom of the cap was sealed, and concrete was placed through the slot in the top of the cap to complete the connection.
PhotoPhoto of construction on SH 361 over Redfish Bay and Morris-Cummings Cut. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps
Other KeywordsPrecast bent caps; precast piling,precast concrete piles/columns,precast deck panels with topping slab,precast pretensioned partial-depth deck panels
AdvantagesConstructibility: Using precast caps limited the amount of time required for over water work on the Texas Gulf Coast. Minimized Traffic Disruption: Using precast caps reduced project duration by about 40%.
Related Document 1Precast Bent Caps for SH 361 over Redfish Bay and Morris-Cummings Cut (PDF, 0.5 mb)
HTML Version:
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

SH 66 over Lake Ray Hubbard

LocationNear Dallas
StateTX
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonLloyd M. Wolf P.E.
Design Branch Manager
Bridge Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin TX 78701
Phone: (512) 416-2279
Fax: (512) 416-2557
Email: lwolf@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionAfter 40 years of service, the narrow two-lane crossing of SH 66 over Lake Ray Hubbard had become a congested route for commuters in the suburbs east of Dallas and needed to be replaced. In 2000, construction began on a pair of conventional prestressed concrete I beam bridges with lengths of 10,280 and 4,360 feet. After the project was let for construction, the contractor asked to precast the substructure bent caps as an alternative to the original design of cast-in-place multi-column bents to reduce the amount of time the workers would need to operate near power lines. TxDOT designed a precast bent cap option that included a cap-to-column connection and a specific construction procedure that allowed early placement of caps and prestressed beams based on achieved cap concrete and cap grout connection strength. The connection design included reinforcing steel dowel bars that protrude from the columns into the precast caps via open plastic ducts that are grouted after cap placement. On this project a total of 43 bent caps will be precast.
PhotoSH 66 over Lake Ray Hubbard
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps; decks
Other KeywordsPrecast bent caps; precast prestressed deck panels; precast prestressed I-beams
AdvantagesWork zone safety: reduced amount of time required for work near power lines and reduced work time overwater (80% of work on caps was done on the ground).; Minimized traffic disruption: Using precast caps produced a saving of 5-7 days per cap, distributed across activities associated with formwork, curing, steel, inspection, and bearing seats.; Improved constructibility.
Related Document 1Precast Bent Cap Column (Square and Round) Drawings (PDF, 0.6 mb)
HTML Version:
Related Document 2Precast Bent Cap Detail Drawings (PDF, 0.9 mb)
HTML Version:
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

Spur Overpass over AT&SF Railroad

LocationDowntown Lubbock
StateTX
Completion Date1988
Contact PersonMichael Hyzak
Bridge Design Engineer
Texas Department of Transportation
Phone: (512) 416-2184
Email: mhyzak@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionBuilt in 1958, the SPUR (loop) 326 bridge at AT&SF Railway has a total length of 545 ft. and consists of two separate non-composite structures handling traffic travelling in the north-south directions. In 1986, the bridge underwent rehabilitation because of signs of early deck deterioration and a need to widen the roadway width to accommodate increasing traffic. The new deck is made of eight precast full-depth panels, each 6ft. 3 in. x 45 ft. x 8 in. and epoxied into place. The construction time was only a couple of days, a significantly shorter time than if the deck had been cast in place.
PhotoPhoto of Spur Overpass over AT&SF Railroad. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsPrecast full-depth deck panels,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

Troy-Menands Bridge

LocationBetween the City of Troy and the Village of Menands in Rensselaer and Albany Counties
StateNY
Completion Date1995
Contact PersonTimothy Conway P.E.
Regional Structures Engineer
Region One
New York State Department of Transportation
Phone: (518) 473-0497
Email: TConway@gw.dot.state.ny.us
DescriptionThe Troy-Menands Bridge carries Route 378 over the Hudson river in Rensselaer and Albany Counties. The structure supplies access to local businesses in both counties as well as area colleges, and more than 36,000 vehicles cross it daily. Work of any kind on this structure is usually confined to off-peak hours for one-lane closures night-only hours for multiple-lane or total closures. When the badly deteriorating bridge deck needed to be replaced, the project was challenged to avoid impacting the travelling public to a significant degree. An around-the-clock detour was not feasible because of potential congestion for alternate crossings, especially during peak hour flows. New York State Department of Transportation's Region One Office opted to use precast deck panels, offering two precast options, and to require the contractor to complete the work during the hours of 10 pm to 6 am, closing only three of the four lanes. The contractor chose exodermic precast concrete deck panels using lightweight concrete, which increased the load-carrying capacity of the floor beams of the structure and made the panels more manageable and maneuverable during construction. The contractor was required to remove a portion of the deck, prepare it for the precast panel, install the new panel, and fill the joints with joint material. After a short learning period, the contractor was able to install six panels--just over 900 square feet of deck area--per night. Traffic was never delayed during the morning rush hour, and the contractor was never fined for late openings. Today the deck is still in very good shape some seven years after completion.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsExodermic deck panels,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: Work occurred at night when traffic volume was low, with lanes open to full traffic by morning commuting hours.
Contract ElementsThe contract assessed penalties for failing to open the bridge to traffic by 6 am of $10,000 per hour.

US 27 over Pitman Creek

LocationSomerset
StateKY
Completion Date1993
Contact PersonSteve Goodpaster P.E.
Director, Division of Bridge Design
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Phone: (502) 564-4560
Email: Steve.Goodpaster@mail.state.ky.us
DescriptionThe 700-foot bridge carrying US 27 over Pitman Creek in southern Kentucky is heavily used by vehicle and truck traffic and provides a major north-south road for the area. When the bridge deck needed to be replaced, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet opted to do the work at night, keeping two lanes open during the day and one lane open at night. Using proprietary full-depth deck panels allowed modular construction, greatly minimizing traffic impacts as well as providing some weight savings by lightening the dead load on the truss. Project work was performed at night, with traffic routed to one lane at 6:00 pm and opened back to two lanes at 6:00 am. The slab between floor beams (25 feet) was removed and replaced with the full-depth deck panels. Using high-early-strength concrete allowed the joints between deck panels to be poured and opened to traffic next morning.
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsFull-depth deck panels, New Jersey barrier railing,full-depth deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption.

US 290 Ramp E-3

LocationAustin
StateTX
Completion Date1996
Contact PersonGregg A. Freeby P.E.
Design Branch Manager
Bridge Division
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin TX 78701
Phone: (512) 416-2192
Fax: (512) 416-2557
Email: gfreeby@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionAfter the contract had been let and work started, it became clear that formwork for the proposed cast-in-place cap would interfere with traffic and require closing of the ramp for an estimated 7 days. With TxDOT's approval, the contractor instead precast the straddle bent cap at the work site and lifted it into position. When it was in place, workers post-tensioned bars and grouted the cap-to-column connections. The time necessary for closure of the ramp was reduced from an estimated 7 days to 4 hours.
PhotoPhoto of construction on US 290 Ramp G. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsBent caps
Other KeywordsPrecast bent cap,precast bent caps
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption: The time necessary for closure of the ramp was reduced from an estimated 7 days to 4 hours.
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

US 59 under Dunlavy, Hazard, Mandel and Woodhead Streets

LocationHouston
StateTX
Completion Date1995
Contact PersonJohn P. Vogel P.E.
Bridge Design Engineer
Houston District
Texas Department of Transportation
8100 Washington Avenue
Houston TX 77251-1386
Phone: (713) 802-5235
Fax: (713) 802-5350
Email: jvogel1@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionIn the mid-1990's, widening of US 59 from six to ten lanes, including two high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, required replacement of bridges connecting streets in four Houston neighborhoods. Project challenges included neighborhood displeasure with proposed disruptions during on-site construction and restrictive clearances beneath the bridges. To maintain freeway traffic under the bridges and allow city street traffic over US 59 while removing and replacing the bridges, TxDOT provided attractive tied arch bridges, structures that suspend a thin slab from two tied arches 45 feet apart. The existing bridges were used as work platforms for erecting the arches, and the slabs were precast in segments and then bolted to erection beams to eliminate the need for falsework under the bridge during construction.
PhotoUS 59 under Dunlavy, Hazard, Mandel and Woodhead Streets
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed deck panels
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption and improved constructibility: Restrictive clearances beneath the bridges made construction of falsework difficult without closing US 59.
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

Wells Street Bridge

LocationChicago
StateIL
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonThomas Powers, P.E.;
Chicago Department of Transportation,
(312) 744-3591
Description

This bridge with 3 spans (111-ft. center span) is a steel through truss in the city center.

Part of a large project to rebuild Chicago's Wacker Drive involved rebuilding an 1899 steel bridge for the Chicago Transit Authority's elevated trains. The original specification required rebuilding the bridge in section on weekends in one month; however, the bridge owner approved the contractor's value-engineering proposal to pre-build the bridge and then moved it into position over a single weekend. The center span was constructed near the site and moved on a special hydraulic carrier about 75 ft. west and 5 ft. north, where it was placed on new foundations and connected to two shorter spans on either side. In spite of stiff contractual penalties for any delay ($1,000/minute), work was completed over a weekend in May 2002 with 2 hours to spare.

The 425-ton, 111 ft. long and 25 ft. high center-span superstructure was prefabricated.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) avoided significant disruption to travelers commuting into the city from the north. CTA would have had to provide additional, costly shuttle services. Prefabrication allowed Walsh Construction to operate in a more controlled environment and to avoid the major shoring effort that would have accompanied rebuilding the existing structure while keeping it open for weekday traffic, thus limiting company liability for financial penalties. The use of prefabrication reduced disruption to vehicle drivers from 6 months to a single weekend; it reduced disruption to transit users from four to six weekends to a single weekend.

PhotoPrefabricated center span for Chicago's Wells Street Bridge being moved into place. Click for larger version of image.
Prefabricated ElementsTotal superstructure systems
Other Keywordstotal superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsChicago Department of Transportation

Wesley Street Bridge

LocationRagsdale Creek in Jacksonville
StateTX
Completion Date2002
Contact PersonSteven Hall P.E.
Texas Department of Transportation
Phone: (903) 586-9878
Email: shall3@dot.state.tx.us
DescriptionOne of only two routes into or out of a populated housing community, Wesley Street crosses Ragsdale Creek in Jacksonville, Texas. When the bridge required replacement, TxDOT opted for accelerated construction to facilitate opening the bridge to traffic. Work on the project began in October 2001 and completed in January 2002.
PhotoPhoto of Wesley Street Bridge. Click image for larger view
Prefabricated ElementsDecks
Other KeywordsPrecast prestressed slab beams
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption, reducing inconvenience to local commuters.
Photo CreditsTexas Department of Transportation

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Contact

Reggie Holt
Office of Bridge Technology
202-366-4596
E-mail Reggie

 
 
This page last modified on 05/12/08
 

FHWA
United States Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration