PUBLIC WORKS BRIDGES

Six projects were entered in this category. The list includes: Andreson Road interchange, SR-520 lift portion restoration, T.J. Meenach Bridge, Pierce County overpass, a SR-526 project and Union Hill Bridge.

The runaway winner, with all judges voting it first place, was the T.J. Meenach Bridge project. Second place went to the Union Hill Bridge. A tie was declared for third place, between the SR-520 project and the Andresen Road interchange.

The T.J. Meenach Bridge replaces a 1927-vintage structure crossing the Spokane River near Downriver Park. The new bridge is 60 feet above the river and is composed of four spans, two measuring 160 feet and two measuring 200 feet.

Typical precast girders were not adequate for the long span lengths, so pier tables consisting of cast-in-place box girders were constructed. The pier tables extend 35 feet to each side of the river piers, reducing the remaining span to 130 feet, which was bridged with precast drop-in girders. The entire 720-foot-long bridge was then post-tensioned into a single structural unit.

One requirement of the bridge, since it is located in a scenic area, was that it had to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. To address this concern, two column piers were located near the edges of the bridge. The columns were extended 12 feet above the deck level to form pylons which carry the light poles. The pier configuration is repeated at the abutments to anchor the superstructure visually at each end.

Coming in a strong second place was the Union Hill Bridge project over Bear Creek. It was also a replacement bridge. The new structure used cast-in-place concrete and was conventionally reinforced.

Bridge designers had to consider how to maintain the native vegetation under the Union Hill structure. Their solution was to slope the sides of the superstructure to maximize the light levels below. Fillets and circular curve haunches at the top of the piers were included to provide a smooth transition from the superstructure to the substructure.

Within the bridge structure, 24-inch casings were used to seismically isolate a 16-inch watermain and a 12-inch gas main. To facilitate future removal of the watermain, cast-in-place concrete utility vaults were hung on the back side of the abutments beneath the sidewalk.

Project teams

T.J. Meenach Bridge replacement:

• City of Spokane, Department of Construction Services;
  
• Parson Brinckerhoff, engineer and architect;
  
• Max J. Kuney Co., contractor; and
  
• Central Pre-Mix, concrete supplier.

Union Hill Bridge replacement:

• City of Redmond, owner;
  
• CH2M Hill, engineer;
  
• Sheldrup Construction Inc., contractor; and
  
• Cadman Inc., concrete supplier.

Andresen Road Interchange:

• WSDOT, owner;
  
• ICF/Tudor Engineers, engineer;
  
• Wildish, contractor; and
  
• Aphis Ready Mix, concrete supplier.

SR-520 Evergreen Point Bridge rehabilitation:

• WSDOT, owner and architect;
  
• WSDOT Bridges & Structures, engineer;
  
• Atkinson Construction, contractor; and
  
• Lone Star Northwest, concrete supplier.

Pierce County Valley Avenue Bridge:

• Pierce County, owner;
  
• Berger/ABAM, engineer and architect;
  
• Kiewit Construction Co., contractor; and
  
• Miles Sand & Gravel, concrete supplier.

Eastbound SR-526 to Northbound I-5 Interchange:

• City of Everett/WSDOT, owners;
  
• INCA Engineers Inc., engineer and architect;
  
• Fletcher General Construction, contractor; and
  
• Associated Sand & Gravel, concrete supplier.

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