ORTHOTROPIC BRIDGE SAVES OLD COVERED BRIDGE
When inspection of the Old Covered Bridge at West Cornwall, Connecticut revealed extensive deterioration of its floor system and trusses, a new bridge was proposed to be built just upstream. The old bridge, dating from 1841, would have been left open to pedestrians only. This proposal angered local residents who wanted the old bridge restored. Because of tight vertical clearance restrictions, structure depth was severely limited. Preliminary computer analyses showed that a slender orthotropic steel deck bridge could be independently built within the old bridge and designed for AASHTO HS20 and alternative loadings. The construction consisted of building a parallel temporary bridge, raising the old structure 61 cm (2-ft.) higher to clear future floodwaters, painting, reshingling and whitewashing the interior and, erecting the steel deck bridge within. A timber floor was bolted to the steel deck plate. The total project cost $360,000 which is a savings of more than $1,500,000 over the cost of the proposed upstream bridge. More importantly, a historic nineteenth century structure was preserved as a heritage for the twenty-first century. /Author/
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309026962
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record No. 664, Bridge Engineering, Volume 1. Proceedings of a conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board, September 25-27, 1978. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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Authors:
- Victor, Robert F
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Conference:
- Bridge Engineering Conference, 1st, 1978, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Location: St Louis Missouri, United States
- Date: 1978-9-25 to 1978-9-28
- Publication Date: 1978
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; Photos; References;
- Pagination: pp 80-85
- Monograph Title: Bridge Engineering. Volume 1
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record
- Issue Number: 664
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Building materials; Costs; Deterioration; Information processing; Loads; Metal bridges; Orthotropic; Repairing; Steel bridges; Trusses
- Uncontrolled Terms: Loading; Repairs
- Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00183750
- Record Type: Publication
- ISBN: 0309026962
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Dec 3 1978 12:00AM