Practical Aspects Of Routine Geotechnical Site Investigations — They Should Be Anything But Boring!
It’s likely that on any given day there are hundreds of geotechnical site investigations in progress in North America alone. While many of these investigations are carried out in support of large projects,...
Smart Bridges, Evolved
Bridge instrumentation, digital twins, and automated design—among other tech-focused trends—are helping create "smart" bridges that will better serve the public for years to come....
Delivering a Masterpiece
The new Kosciuszko Bridge, also known as the K Bridge, is a twin-span, cable-stayed structure that traverses Newtown Creek, linking the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens via the Brooklyn–Queens...
The Genoa Approach
The Morandi Bridge (formally known as the Polcevera Viaduct) was more than just a critical part of the infrastructure of Genoa, Italy; it was part of the fabric of the city itself. When the bridge partially...
Back in Action
At one of Northern Virginia’s most complex and notoriously congested intersections, the superstructure of a critical highway overpass was demolished, removed, and replaced in a single weekend. The design’s...
An Unknown-Unknown Does In An Overpass: A Soil Stockpile on Soft Clay Is Too Much for a Bridge in Canada
Like most structures, bridges are designed for an array of loading conditions. Some loads are known or can be reasonably estimated with confidence (i.e., known-knowns, such as structure dead and vehicular...
Bridging History
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently rehabilitated the Frankford Avenue Bridge, also known as the Pennypack Creek Bridge. This stone-arch structure, originally built circa 1697, is the...
Connecting Continents: Challenges of the Eurasia Tunnel in Istanbul
The Eurasia Tunnel, the first bored tunnel crossing of the Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus) in Istanbul, Turkey, is a site that presents many unique challenges, including very poor ground conditions, unusually...
Arena of Books
The new Qatar National Library features a folded design with cantilevered corners on the exterior, while inside, an enormous single space for reading or socializing offers terraces stacked with bookshelves....
Crossing the Forth
Scotland’s Queensferry Crossing spans the Firth of Forth, connecting Edinburgh and the Kingdom of Fife. Built at a cost of $1.89 billion in six and a half years, the 1.6 mi long cable-stayed bridge, with...
When Bridges, Roadways, and Dams Need Our Help: Innovative Techniques Can Help Save Our Nation's Critical Infrastructure
The nation's infrastructure is showing its age. The signs are obvious with structure distress, lack of functionality, and failure reported frequently over the last several decades. Specialty geotechnical...
Risky Business: Identifying an Acceptable Rockfall Standard
For many parts of the U.S. highway system, cut slopes in rock are as common as bridges and embankments. These cut slopes, as well as some natural ones, produce rockfalls that pose risks to highway conditions...
Calendar: Bridges 2018
Featured bridges are: Isleton Bridge (Isleton, California); Royal Gorge Bridge (Canon City, Colorado); Dom Luis I Bridge (Porto, Portugal); Crescent Avenue Bridge (Fort Wayne, Indiana); M-231 Bridge (Ottawa...
Highway Retaining Walls are Assets: A Risk-Based Approach for Managing Them
Throughout history, retaining walls (RWs) have served a vital role in supporting civil infrastructure. The ruins of dry stone walls that purportedly supported the hills and slopes of ancient Rome can be...
Foundation Reuse and Enhancement: A Viable Option for Bridge Widening and Replacement Projects
The transportation system in the U.S. includes over 607,000 bridges for grade separations, interchange configurations, and stream crossings. As governmental entities embark on the rehabilitation and rebuilding...
Calendar: Bridges 2017
Featured bridges are: Tongjin Bridge (Nanxun, Huzhou, China); St. John's Bridge (Porto, Portugal); Foresthill Bridge (Placer County, California); San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (San Francisco, California);...
A Foundation Engineering Trip Down the Mississippi: Foundations for Mississippi River Bridges from Minnesota to Louisiana
Huckleberry Finn had his adventure, but for those interested in foundation engineering, this article will float you down the Mississippi River on your own encounter with the many bridges...
Evaluating Bridges With Unknown Foundations for Susceptibility to Scour: North Carolina Applies Risk-Based Guidelines to Over 3,750 Bridges
Scour occurs when flowing water removes erodible material such as sand and rock. For bridges over water, scour affects the stability of pier and abutment foundations and contributes to...
National Usage of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil to Support Bridges
The Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS IBS) was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) almost 20 years ago to help meet the demand for the next...
Spread Footings Revisited: Geotechnical Advances Lead to Expanded Use for Bridge Abutments
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has historically used steel shell piles to support highway bridge structures, probably due to a blend of familiarity and efficiency among...
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