ARROYO SPANNED WITH ECONOMY AND GRACE

A recently completed bridge in Orange County, California, presented a broad spectrum of design challenges to county public works personnel. The structure had to meet current and projected traffic demands without disturbing a wildlife reserve and wilderness park. Aside from the need to lessen the environmental impact of the bridge, the design also had to reflect the special hydraulic characteristics of the Arroyo Trabuco, a deep natural water course about 800 feet wide at the bottom. The final design was for a 1200-foot bridge - the longest ever built by Orange County - that would span the entire Arroyo. The bridge is supported by six specially designed steel and concrete "wishbone" columns, cast in place. These columns support five 184-foot center spans and two 137-foot end spans. The cast in place, post-tensioned box girders have a rounded exterior edge and patterned outside barrier face to enhance the visual appeal of the structure from the park below.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Publication Date: 1984-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 12-13
• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Volume: 54
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Box girders; Bridge design; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Cast in place structures; Environmental engineering; Environmental protection; Highway bridges; Structural design; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge spans
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Environment; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00392595
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 29 1985 12:00AM