Cable-Stayed Canal Crossing

by Kenneth V. Butler, Engr.; Figg Engineering Group Inc., 424 N. Calhoun St., Tallahassee, FL 32301,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1995, Vol. 65, Issue 1, Pg. 50-53


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

To lure some traffic from overburdened U.S. 13, a major north-south route on the Eastern Seaboard, Delaware is constructing a 47-mile relief route that will cross the C&O Canal on a prestressed concrete segmental bridge supported by cable stays arranged in a single plane. Challenges of minimal canal and highway disruption, economy and speed of construction were met by use of precast box piers, box girder superstructure and delta frames. The $58 million winning bid for the concrete alternative was $6.2 million less than the second low bid, for a steel design. The bridge carries three lanes of traffic plus 10 ft shoulders in each direction. In an unusual departure for a precast segmental design, the 58 ft 8 in. wide twin box girders are independent structures on the approaches but merge to a single structure in the main span, are mated by precast delta frames that also house the cable anchorages. All components, including piers, were precast in Virginia and delivered by barge through the canal. Completion is scheduled for August 1995.

Subject Headings: Cables | Canals | Concrete bridges | Cable stayed bridges | Routing (transportation) | Piers | Infrastructure construction

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