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Geotechnical Engineer Dives to Inspect Bridges
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Failures
Major Devastation in BC from Atmospheric River
The record-breaking precipitation in BC and the Pacific Northwest causes major destruction to bridges, embankments, roads, and rail corridors. The BC Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure posted some photos today that are quite dramatic. See […]
Project Related
Emergency Repair of Allegheny River Lock No. 6
Severe erosion was discovered on an October 2008 inspection of Allegheny River Lock and Dam No. 6 near Pittsburgh, PA, a US Army Corps of Engineers structure. In the Q1 2009 issue of PileDriver Magazine […]
Project Related
Deleware Forced to Redesign Unfinished Bridge Because of Consolidation Issues
[Update 2/10/08] Updated the name of the bridge. [/Update]
DelDOT is putting the new Indian River Bridge over out to bid. The current bridge is said to be in danger of failing between 2008 and 2012 according to the Army Corps of Engineers, seems to be related to scour. From what I hear, the tidal currents at that inlet being spanned over are tremendous, with water velocities on the order of 35 mph.
In 2005, Mactec, a geotechnical firm, provided a geotechnical report and associated recommendations to DelDOT for how to construct the 45-ft high approach embankments for a 1,400-ft long bridge in light of a 60-ft clay layer (sounds like pre-loading). However, the embankments are not settling as Mactec predicted (not sure if its more or less, probably less meaning slower) and are "shifting laterally" (squeezing?) so the DOT is going with a longer bridge to span the problem soil. More after the break.