Four Bears Bridge - Context Sensitive Design and Construction Challenges

This paper describes the Four Bears Bridge, which is a bridge that will be the first precast segmental bridge to be built in North Dakota. The new 4500-foot long structure will replace an existing steel truss bridge built in 1955 and traverse waters as deep as 90 feet. A Context Sensitive Design (CSD) process, with full FHWA oversight, was accomplished during the preliminary phase of the project. Development and implementation of that process is chronicled. Cost estimates for CSD components are summarized. One of the significant project issues is the icing of the lake in winter. A detailed summary of the ice force determination report is included as well as photographs of ice formation during November & December of 2003. The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) selected a number of bridge components to speed construction. One innovative feature chosen was precast cofferdams. The precast cofferdams were designed to function as both a template for driving the steel piles and as a lost form for the footings. Issues related to the pipe pile foundation design are included as well as construction photographs from the 2003 construction season.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Concrete Bridge Council

  Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road
  Skokie, IL  United States  60077-1083
• Authors:
  • Wilt, Joel
  • Hines, Franklin
• Conference:
  • The 2004 Concrete Bridge Conference
  • Location: Charlotte NC, United States
  • Date: 2004-5-17 to 2004-5-18
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 23p
• Monograph Title: Building a New Generation of Bridges

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Cofferdams; Construction; Context sensitive design; Foundations; Icing; Pile foundations; Precast concrete; Segmental construction; Winter
• Identifier Terms: Four Bears Bridge (North Dakota)
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01036255
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 2006 8:14AM