OLD BRIDGE GETS A NEW LEASE ON LIFE

FACING CONDEMNATION BECAUSE OF GROWING TRAFFIC LOADS AND THE RAVAGES OF TIME, THE LANDMARK SMITHFIELD STREET SPAN IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, HAS ACQUIRED A NEW LEASE ON LIFE THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF A DECK AND WALKWAY OF HIGH STRENGTH, LIGHT-WEIGHT PANELS OF ALUMINUM. FURTHERMORE, NEW DESIGN TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED IN RENOVATING THE 85-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE WHICH NOT ONLY SAVED THE STRUCTURE, BUT GAVE IT HIGHER LOAD BEARING CAPACITY. THE INITIAL RENOVATION REMOVED 751 TONS OF DEAD WEIGHT FROM THE VINTAGE STRUCTURE. EMPLOYMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, AN ORTHOTROPIC DECK TECHNIQUE NOW BEING APPLIED TO RESTORE THE BRIDGE, STRENGTHENS THE SPAN WHILE ELIMINATING AN ADDITIONAL 108 TONS. MOST OF THE 52 RECTANGULAR ALUMINUM ROADWAY PANELS MEASURE 11 BY 27 FEET AND ARE 8 INCHES THICK. A POLYESTER-RESIN-SAND COMBINATION IS APPLIED TO THE PLATE SURFACE TO A DEPTH OF 3/8 INCHES FOR TIRE TRACTION ON THE ROADWAY SURFACE. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 21, No 4, P 47
• Publication Date: 1968-4

Media Info

• Serial:
  • World Construction
  • Publisher: Donnelley (Reuben H) Corporation

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Bearing capacity; Bridge decks; Bridge superstructures; Design; Methodology; Orthotropic; Panels; Polyester resins; Rehabilitation; Resins; Sand; Structural plates; Walkways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans; Plates
• Old TRIS Terms: Renovating
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218257
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 6 1994 12:00AM