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Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems

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 Elementssuperstructure
Other Keywordstotal superstructure prefabrication
AdvantagesMinimized traffic disruption
Photo CreditsVermont Department of Transportation
Updated: 09/27/2011

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