RESEARCH PAYS OFF: NEW BLASTING TECHNIQUE IN WASHINGTON STATE SAVES MONEY AND TIME

The last phase of construction of Washington State Route 504, which provides access to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, involved construction of the South Coldwater Creek Bridge sited in loose, saturated debris avalanche deposits which are highly susceptible to liquefaction. With depth the liquefaction potential diminishes, but dynamic settlement still could occur. The effects of both these phenomena could include loss of foundation support, lateral spreading, and ground settlement. To mitigate the potential for seismically induced liquefaction and dynamic settlement at the bridge site, the Washington State Department of Transportation utilized blast densification to improve the density and strength of the deposit and allow for use of cost-effective shallow spread footings. Blast densification was approximately half the cost of the other options considered and also saved millions of dollars in potential delay costs. Further details of the SR 504 project are provided in this article.

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    Transportation Research Board

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  • Publication Date: 1995-7

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: p. 30-31
  • Serial:
    • TR News
    • Issue Number: 179
    • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
    • ISSN: 0738-6826

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00711814
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Sep 26 1995 12:00AM