Project
Harper Leavitt Engineering was contracted to provide construction engineering on site for the relocation and later removal of an existing steel truss bridge originally constructed in the 1930s, as well as to facilitate the erection of a pre-cast concrete replacement bridge on the existing alignment, all with minimum disruption to the local environment and on a tight schedule. Over the years, the cross girders had sustained damage from increasing high load traffic which was becoming more frequent, and could eventually make the existing structure unsafe for use.
Solution
The design team had to find the most economic and efficient solution to install 140,000-pound concrete girders on a 150-foot span between two piers across a river without employing the biggest mobile cranes, as they were too costly. Taking an innovative approach, they decided to use the existing bridge frame as a temporary support structure for installing the new girders. In turn, the new bridge, once built, could be used to remove the original steel frame off site for dismantling, while protecting the environment.
Outcome
The design team was able to proceed with its innovative, lower-cost solution with confidence, using STAAD.Pro for analysis. As a result, the city of St. Anthony has a newly-constructed bridge more suited to the changing demands of its lumber industry, which uses large, modern trucks with high loads.
Software
The Harper Leavitt team used STAAD.Pro to analyze and confirm the viability of their proposed solution to use a bridge in a way that was never envisioned when originally constructed – as a temporary support structure. Bentley’s LEAP software (for the design of piers and for checking continuous prestressed girders) and MicroStation (to detail plans and render 3D drawings) were also used in the design and detailing.