Steel Bridge Provides TDOT With Accelerated Solution, Restores School Bus Route

Photo Credits: Charles Blalock and Sons

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) recently published a case study authored by Guy Nelson (Valmont Industries) where steel press-brake-formed tub girders (PBFTGs) were used for a bridge rehabilitation project.

The article, Fast-Acting Tub Girders: Modern Steel Construction, mentioned that the original Jones Cove Road Bridge in Sevier County, Tennessee was shut down in 2022 because of a “washed-out” box bridge.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) needed a quick solution based on concerns from local parents over school bus delays and from residents over longer commutes due to redirected traffic patterns. After dialogue with TDOT officials and other industry stakeholders, the solution was clear. The solution was a steel PBFTG bridge.

This bridge project featured:

• Two 10-ft.-wide travel lanes with 5-ft.-wide shoulders.
• A superstructure comprised of five Valmont U18 U-BEAMs using 3/8-inch-thick galvanized steel plate.

The new 52-ft-long Jones Cove Road bridge comprises two 10-ft-wide travel lanes, one in each direction, with 5-ft shoulders on either side. Photo: Charles Blalock and Sons

PBFTGs: Accelerated Bridge Construction and Extended Service Lives

The five steel beams required for the superstructure were supplied within six weeks, and the bridge reopened a mere three months after closing down.

This project is another successful example of accelerated bridge construction (ABC) practices that are being utilized by the bridge construction industry using solutions like PBFTG structures. PBFTG bridge systems can be installed faster than traditional structures and are frequently galvanized, ensuring longer service lives of 100 years or more.

A typical section view of the bridge, showing all five tub girders

Accelerated Bridge Construction Solutions

The impact of ABC cannot be understated in today’s landscape given the high volume of traffic experienced on our roadways.  Bridge construction can be a major disruption for bridge owners and the traveling public using this infrastructure on a routine basis.

Utilizing solutions like PBFTG systems can enhance ABC, providing a more economical and convenient approach for all stakeholders involved.

The benefits of steel press-brake-formed tub girder bridges include:

• Short span structures can be fabricated off-site in a controlled environment. They can be shipped by truck and are ready to install as soon as they reach the project site.
• Reinforcement and formwork installation are not required.
• Steel erection is not limited to a specific temperature range.
• Steel is often lighter than other materials for the same span, resulting in smaller or fewer erection cranes. Local crews and equipment can be used to install the bridge in a single day.
• Prefabricated steel bridges accelerate construction and reduce on-site labor requirements, reduce traffic disruption, and cut overall project costs.
• Prefabricated steel bridges reduce the exposure of workers and the public to construction activities and reduce environmental
• A PBFTG bridge requires minimal maintenance during its long lifetime of 100 years or more.

Significant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been designated to fix the nation’s infrastructure. Bridge owners and the traveling public are finding cost-effective, time-saving solutions with steel PBFTG bridges.

The new Jones Cove Road Bridge in Tennessee is one of many successful projects completed in 18 states that are currently utilizing the PBFTG technology.

Learn more about PBFTG bridges.

Read Full Article from Modern Steel Construction