Technical Description:
• Aluminum Structural Plate
• Span: 30-ft.
• Rise: 15-ft.
• Length: 100 ft.
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When an existing structure needed to be replaced on East Albany Street in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the city of Broken Arrow worked with Marquardt Engineering, PLLC to find the best replacement option. The engineer originally considered a large, 2-cell 14' x 12' reinforced concrete box culvert at the site, but the city preferred a clear span structure without a center wall to catch debris. The city also wanted a solution that was cost effective and installed quickly and efficiently. Lastly, the height cover requirement was also prohibitive for a cast-in-place box culvert.
“In order to accommodate additional traffic brought on by a newly constructed public school facility, the roadway widening project was designed to include a new bridge structure immediately east of the school," stated Travis Small, PE, CFM, Transportation Division Manager with the city.
After more consideration, it was decided that a single-radius 30' span x 15' rise Aluminum Structural Plate (ALSP), 100' in length, was the best solution to provide a hydraulic waterway opening large enough both vertically and horizontally to accommodate the significant flow. Small added, "An ALSP arch bridge was selected because it provided sufficient channel opening to efficiently pass the 1% storm event and, due to the single span design, it eliminated debris catching interior walls a multi-cell reinforced concrete box structure would have introduced."
Contech Engineered Solutions' engineers worked with Marquardt during the design process. The aluminum headwalls and wingwalls were very tall, providing an engineering challenge for Contech's design team. However, with experience and careful calculations, the walls were designed to structurally handle the soil load at the required heights.
Tri-Star Construction, the project's contractor, was a first-time installer of structural plate, so Contech personnel worked closely with their team every step of the way by providing on-site representation and technical support during much of the installation. The project was awarded in May needed to be completed before school started in mid-August. Despite significant weather challenges and the structure being completely inundated with flood water during installation, the structure was installed in just two weeks, meeting the demands of the tight schedule. "When delays threatened the project’s critical deadline, ultimately the speed of construction for the arch bridge proved to be of significant benefit in having the project open before the first day of school," Small elaborated.
In the end, the ALSP was a great solution for the site, and the city and Marquardt were pleased with the outcome.
"The staff at Contech provided exceptional customer support from design services through construction observation," concluded Keith Marquardt with Marquardt.
Technical Description:
• Aluminum Structural Plate
• Span: 30-ft.
• Rise: 15-ft.
• Length: 100 ft.
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