K-39 Railroad Underpass

Technical Description:

• Span: 48 ft, 14 ft
• Rise: 11 ft (2)
• Length: 250 ft, 74 ft 6 in

The Kansas Department of Transportation needed to replace a structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridge over the South Kansas & Oklahoma railroad tracks. The DOT wanted the new bridge to help improve traffic flow at the downtown junction of K-39 and the railroad line and provide more scenic pedestrian access in the downtown Chanute commercial zone.

The bridge replacement project was based on four lanes of traffic, a sidewalk and the need for pedestrian tunnels. Consulting engineer Crafton Tull Sparks chose two CON/SPAN^® precast arches. The larger 48’ span structure replaces the old bridge over the railway and the smaller 14’ span structure serves as a nearby pedestrian underpass. Both CON/SPAN arches utilized precast headwalls with a unique stone formliner, transitioning to MSE retaining walls that join the two structures together.

“Steep grades at approaches combined with railroad clearances limited structural depth to minimum possible obtainable” stated Robert Reynolds of KDOT. “The extreme shallow depth and skewed span made the CON/SPAN structure the most cost-effective solution for this project”

Technical Description:

• Span: 48 ft, 14 ft
• Rise: 11 ft (2)
• Length: 250 ft, 74 ft 6 in