Wadsworth Road over Tri-State Tollway (I-294)
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BB&A provided structural design and contract plan preparation for this bridge as part of a value engineering change proposal. This 2-span structure was to be extended due to mainline pavement widening and toll plaza lane additions.
The design included the following elements:
- Steel plate girders were substituted with 165 foot long modified 72-inch PPC Bulb-T beams spliced over the pier without post-tensioning.
- Concrete strength for release and final was increased to 6,000 and 8,000 psi, respectively, with 0.6” diameter prestressing strands.
- The girders were made continuous for all dead and live loads (except the beam self weight) by coupling dywidag bars protruding from the top flanges over the pier.
- Temporary top strands were utilized for shipping and erection stability with single point lifting by just one crane used for beam erection.
BB&A's innovative design allowed for span lengths of 158 and 165 3/5 feet--23 to 30 feet longer than the maximum 135 feet that traditionally designed girders would have permitted.