DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEWPORT BRIDGE
THE EAST PASSAGE CROSSING OF NARRAGANSETT BAY WAS FORESTALLED BY U.S. NAVAL OPERATIONS UNTIL 1964, WHEN A SUITABLE SITE BECAME AVAILABLE WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT MINIMUM CLEARANCES OF 1600 FT HORIZONTAL AND 205 FT VERTICAL WERE MAINTAINED. THIS CONDITION, PLUS ESTHETIC REQUIREMENTS, DEMANDED A SUSPENSION BRIDGE. A CENTRAL GORGE IN THE ALINEMENT NECESSITATED PILE DRIGING AT GREAT DEPTHS (100 FT AND 140 FT) FOR THE MINIMUM SPAN LENGTH. HOWEVER, A LONGER MAIN SPAN LENGTH WAS FOUND MORE EXPENSIVE. ROCK WAS LOCATED A MINUS 220 FT FOR THE WEST TOWER PIER AND MINUS 432 FT FOR THE EAST, AND MODIFIED POTOMAC-TYPE FOOTINGS WERE SELECTED. PILE CUTOFF WAS ACCOMPLISHED USING A SATURATION DIVING UNIT. FOOTING FORMS WERE DESIGNED WITH VARIABLE BUOYANCY FOR CONTROLLED LOWERING. OF THE REMAINING PIERS, SOME WERE CONSTRUCTED ON PILES OR IN THE DRY; AND OTHERS ON CAISSONS DRILLED INTO ROCK, THE TECHNIQUE USED FOR THE WEST ANCHORAGE. SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURE INCLUDE SHOP-FABRICATED PARALLEL-WIRE CABLES, A UNIQUE CABLE ANCHORAGE, PLASTIC RATHER THAN WIRE CABLE WRAPPING, AND A NEW CONCRETE DECK CURING-PROTECTIVE COMPOUND. /ASCE/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 97, No ST 11, PROC PAPER 8529, PP 2635-2651, 9 FIG
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Authors:
- Hedefine, A
- Mandel, H M
- Publication Date: 1971-11
Media Info
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Serial:
- Journal of the Structural Division
- Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge anchorages; Bridge approaches; Bridge design; Bridge piers; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Cables; Construction; Construction management; Continuous girder bridges; Footings; Geological surveying; Pile driving; Structural design; Suspension bridges; Truss bridges; Underwater construction
- Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans
- Old TRIS Terms: Gorges; Subsurface explorations
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00209570
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Dec 20 1971 12:00AM