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Duwamish River/First Avenue Bridge |
The top pick for the Bridges category went to the Duwamish River/First Avenue South Bridge. Concrete played a big role in the replacement of what was known as the "killer bridge" over the Duwamish River. The job included a new double-leaf bascule bridge and a rehabilitation of the existing 1950s-era bridge - creating one-way traffic on each bridge and eliminating head-on car crashes the bridge had become known for. Also, separate bike paths were built.
Over 80,000 cubic yards of ready mixed concrete were used to build the project. Concrete elements range from the large-diameter shafts and cast-in-place piling to support the structures to precast, prestressed girders with a concrete deck.
The new bridge features a poured-in-place concrete surface over metal decking. This unique application of a concrete surface on a moveable bridge deck helps improve traction during freezing conditions. Close cooperation between ready mixed suppliers, project designers and the contractor was required to effectively apply a special concrete mix to the grid deck.
Cast-in-place concrete was used on the bridge's fender system to protect it from ship collisions. The fender system was redesigned during construction from a rubber bumper system on large concrete shafts to one with smaller concrete shafts tied together with concrete beams. The system is designed to bend slightly to absorb impacts from ships. The design change resulted in cost savings for the project.
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The new bridge includes separate bike paths. |
The project team included: Washington State Department of Transportation, owner/developer, engineer and architect; Atkinson Construction, general contractor; and Lone Star Northwest and Stoneway Concrete, ready mixed suppliers.
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