RECONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES USING STATE MAINTENANCE FORCES

FIVE RELIEF BRIDGES WERE CONSTRUCTED OVER THE TOMBIGEE RIVER FLOOD PLAIN NEAR BOLIGEE, ALABAMA. STATE MAINTENANCE FORCES ARE BEING UTLIZED TO ERECT NEW STEEL PILE BENTS AND TO WIDEN THE EXISTING CONCRETE DECK ON NEARLY ONE MILE OF BRIDGES. WHILE THE APPROACHES ARE 24 FEET WIDE, THE BRIDGES ARE ONLY 20 FEET WIDE, CAUSING EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AS VEHICLES CROSS THEM AT 65 MPH. THE STRUCTURAL ADEQUACY OF THE BRIDGES WAS IN DOUBT. SETTLEMENT AND SHIFTING OF SEVERAL BENTS HAD CAUSED A "GALLOPING" DECK CONDITION WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY IMPARTED SEVERE IMPACT LOADING UNDER HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC. THE PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION PLAN WAS TO WIDEN THE ROADWAY AND INCREASE THE STRUCTURAL STRENGTH OF EACH BRIDGE. THE TIMBER BENTS WERE REPLACED BY STEEL PILE BENTS ERECTED ON 18 FOOT CENTERS, RESULTING IN A THREE-SPAN CONTINUOUS STRUCTURE. ADDITIONAL EXTERIOR STEEL GIRDERS WERE ERECTED TO FACILITATE FOUR FOOT WIDENING OF EACH STRUCTURE, AND THE ULTIMATE DESIGN APPROACHED H-20 DESIGN LOAD CAPACITY.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • pp 33-36, 3 PHOT
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  Special Report-use of Equipment and Methods of Maintenance
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Heiden, D
• Publication Date: 1970-12

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bents; Bridge decks; Bridge substructures; Bridges; Concrete; Maintenance; Reconstruction; Steel; Structural analysis; Support piles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Steel piling; Structural adequacy
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218850
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 24 1972 12:00AM