James Lundeen, Sr, MS, MD, CIME’s Post

Superelevation in road construction is one of the methods of infrastructure construction used in roadway curves where the outer edge of the pavement is raised above the inner edge. An aspect of the vertical alignment or profile of a road viewed in cross section it’s an important safety element in the design criteria of any road with curves and also it helps motorists maintain both safety and optimal speeds on curved roads. Without superelevation many vehicles would slide or skid through curves or even tip and roll over especially in wet or icy conditions or at high speeds. It also allows traffic to maintain some speed on curves preventing excessive slowdowns every time the road bends. #civilengineering #construcrion #highways #roadconstruction #superelevation #highwayengineering

A beautiful sunrise greets the #OHLAUSA project team as they start their workday at the Montebello Corridor Grade Separation project in Montebello, California. This contract is one of several Grade Separation procurements that OHLA USA has performed for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.   The project, which was awarded in 2023, calls for the construction of a bridge at the Union Pacific Railroad crossings at Montebello Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard, creating a roadway underpass at both locations. The contract will eliminate potential train collisions with vehicles since motorists will travel below grade while trains traverse the track unimpeded. The effort will also significantly reduce traffic congestion and emissions and enhance safety by upgrading signal systems and adding pedestrian crossings.   Located eight miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the grade separation requires the demolition and excavation of substructure elements followed by the construction of a steel girder bridge with concrete fascia and earth retaining structures. Also included is the installation of CIDH piles, abutments, and columns. To advance the project, the OHLA USA team will grade and prepare the site within the Union Pacific Railroad right of way, construct support of excavation systems, build roadway structural sections, and construct a temporary track detour to allow trains to remain operational through the construction zone. Extensive paving activities and concrete work for curbing, gutters, and sidewalks are also part of the contract.   #heavycivil #railroad #roadway #highway #gradeseparation #construction #weareOHLA #webuildexcellence 

A road cross-section is a vertical slice through a road or highway, showing its features at a particular point along its alignment. It typically includes the following elements: 1. **Existing Ground Surface**: The natural terrain before any construction. 2. **Pavement Structure**: The layers of materials that make up the road, including the base, subbase, and surface layers. 3. **Roadway**: The main driving surface. 4. **Shoulders**: The areas adjacent to the roadway, often used for emergency stops. 5. **Ditches and Drains**: Features designed to manage water runoff and prevent flooding. 6. **Embankments and Cuttings**: Areas where the road is built up or cut into the terrain. 7. **Sidewalks and Bike Lanes**: Additional features for pedestrians and cyclists. 8. **Utilities**: Any underground or above-ground infrastructure, such as pipes and cables. Cross-sections are essential for understanding the relationship between the road design and the existing topography, facilitating the planning and construction processes, and ensuring that the design meets safety and functionality requirements.

The Baltimore bridge collapse highlights the importance of designing bridges to withstand extreme loads. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a continuous truss bridge, was likely overwhelmed by the force of the colliding cargo ship. Here are some key points to consider: * Mismatch between design loads and impact force: The bridge's design likely considered standard traffic loads, but not the immense force of a massive vessel. * Vulnerability of support structures: The ship's impact on a critical pier could have caused catastrophic failure, especially if the pier elements were relatively slender. * Limited redundancy: Continuous truss bridges can be susceptible to progressive collapse, where damage in one area propagates throughout the structure. The investigation into the collapse will shed more light on the specific factors at play. This will inform improvements in bridge design, construction, and maintenance to prevent similar tragedies in the future. #baltimorebridge #impactload #redundancy Let’s talk about this, please share your thoughts on this.

The expected 2024 completion of a section of Interstate 69 that runs between Martinsville, IN and I-465 will be the culmination of 75 years of discussion about connecting southwest Indiana to Indianapolis. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) dubbed the project “The Finish Line,” as it is the sixth and final section of work to be performed developing the 142-mile interstate corridor between Evansville and Indianapolis. For the Section 6 work, INDOT specified next-generation concrete surface (NGCS) which incorporates longitudinal grooving. The NGCS used by INDOT on this project was developed to meet the demands of today’s driving public, as well as those living in the vicinity of dense roadway traffic. It’s a cost-effective, super smooth concrete surface with low noise characteristics, which makes it an ideal surface for urban interstates, arterials and residential areas where tire/pavement traffic noise is a concern. Fortunately, the taxpayers of Indiana have transportation officials who are willing to look at best practices abroad and develop pavement systems that are economical, sustainable and safe. These challenging times require innovative thinking and INDOT has shown they are up to the challenge. Learn more about the project here: https://bit.ly/3T2g4SC

The second year of construction on the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) I-494 Airport to Hwy 169 First Construction Design-Build Project in Hennepin County, Minnesota, is almost complete. Michael Baker International is the Lead Designer for the project. Contractor C. S. McCrossan is finalizing the reconstruction of I-494 between East Bush Lake Road and TH 100. The remaining tasks in this section include installing overhead sign foundations, constructing the median barrier and paving concrete on the inside lane and shoulder, all of which are expected to be finished in the coming weeks. Additionally, concrete paving on the Eastbound I-494 lanes is nearing completion. One new bridge is now open to traffic, with three more set to open soon. Construction is scheduled to continue through Fall 2026. The project is part of a long-term vision by MnDOT that includes improvements to address current and future transportation issues on I-494. It aims to provide a transit advantage to increase the number of people who can be efficiently moved through the area; improve the reliability of the average rush-hour trip; improve safety; restore pavement to preserve infrastructure and provide a smoother ride; improve drainage systems to reduce localized flooding and reduce run-off into the Minnesota River while preserving existing bridges. #ProjectUpdate #BridgeConstruction #I494Project

Bridge railings are a crucial component of bridge design. They should comply with established codes and standards to prevent vehicles from plunging off the bridge. However, many bridges have inadequate railing designs that result in repeated railing failures and vehicles fall of the bridge plummeting to the ground. This aggravates the seriousness of the accidents, which happen too often. A proper railing design could have reduced the loss of life and property in this and many other similar incidents.

New Post: How long will it take to rebuild the Key Bridge following its collapse? – Boston Herald -The Francis Scott Key Bridge could rejoin Baltimore’s skyline in as little as two years or as many as 15, with some experts eyeing a number in between.  The Key Bridge crossed the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s outer harbor until early Tuesday morning, when a cargo vessel struck the bridge and sent it into the... The Francis Scott Key Bridge could rejoin Baltimore’s skyline in as little as two years or as many as 15, with some experts eyeing a number in between.  The Key Bridge crossed the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s outer harbor until early Tuesday morning, when a cargo vessel struck the bridge and sent it into the frigid waters below. As of Wednesday, authorities are still searching for six missing construction workers who are presumed dead.  While authorities emphasized the need to focus on the recovery operation, questions have swirled about the rebuild of the Key Bridge — especially after President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said Tuesday that the federal government would “pay the entire cost of reconstructing” the bridge.  “As much as this is a tragedy, and as much as we’re all going to be terribly inconvenienced, it’s people’s lives and jobs in Baltimore if that port stays closed for very long,” said Benjamin W. Schafer, a structural engineer who specializes in steel structures and is an engineering professor at the Johns Hopkins University. Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333 in the Port of Baltimore, expressed similar sentiments Tuesday, saying the halting of ships in and out of the port will be “catastrophic” for the thousands of people employed at the port who are out of work without ship traffic.  But even with promised federal money, which carries with it its own strings and caveats, there are many factors that need to be considered before construction of any bridge can begin, Schafer said, naming securing funding, deciding on a visual design, selecting materials and working out engineering queries as steps in the process.  In the case of the Key Bridge collapse, clearing the river of debris will also be an obstacle. All said and done, Schafer estimated a rebuild could take as long as a decade or more.  “The bridge originally, it seems like it was about five years from breaking ground to opening up. In 1980, when the Tampa Sunshine Skyway bridge had a strike and was destroyed, and then rebuilt with a new cable-stayed bridge, that was seven years. I would consider those lower bounds,” he said. “I think we’re looking at seven-plus, I would guess 10 to 15 years before — I know that sounds crazy — but before we look back over and we see a bridge jumping over the harbor.” At an online event hosted by Hopkins Wednesday morning, Schafer said he’s “lived through quite a few civil infrastructure projects, and they’re rarely less than 10

Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Construction Update: Test piling activities at Industrial Ave and 203 Street 👀 To prepare for the construction of the Surrey Langley SkyTrain, early works are underway in the area. As part of early construction work, crews will complete “test piles” over a three-week period starting the week of September 23 to October 7, 2024. Pile installation involves driving a long metal tube (pile) into the ground to provide the foundation for a structure. The purpose of the test piles is to provide geotechnical information for the design and construction of the new Langley City Centre Station. What to expect: Dates: Starting the week of September 23 to October 7, 2024. Timing:  Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Traffic:  No traffic impacts are expected Impacts:  There may be a temporary increase in noise and vibration while this work is taking place. Monitoring personnel will be on site. #langley #langleybc #langleybusiness

Understanding Culverts and Bridges : Bridge vs. Culvert: What's the Difference? What is a Culvert? A culvert is a structure similar to a bridge, designed to allow pedestrians and vehicles to cross obstacles like roads and railways. However, factors such as obstacle type, usage, terrain, constructability, and span length distinguish culverts from bridges. Span Length: According to the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), structures with spans less than 20ft (6.1m) are typically considered culverts. Types of Culverts: 1. Buried Structures: Used for conveying water, often crossing streams or providing underground drainage. Examples include pipe culverts, box culverts, and long-span corrugated steel culverts. 2. Grade-Separated Structures: Provide passage for pedestrians or cyclists under or over roadways, railways, or major drainage ways, and are classified based on their location (overpass or underpass). 🔍 Differences Between Culverts and Bridges: - Type of Obstacle: Bridges cross larger obstacles like valleys and rivers, while culverts handle narrower areas. - Structural Considerations: Culverts are embedded in soil, which affects their load-bearing capacity. They consist of simpler components like pipes or concrete boxes. - Maintenance: Both require upkeep, but culverts need specific attention to prevent blockages, leakage, and structural undermining. #Engineering #Infrastructure #Culverts #Bridges #Construction #CivilEngineering #StructuralDesign #MIDASCIVIL