A few weeks ago I inspected a two span continuous steel trapezoidal box girder which carries the subway over Leveret Circle in Boston. The bridge consists of curved two box girders, a composite deck and reinforced concrete substructure. The viaduct was constructed as part of the Green Line Relocation Project from Haymarket Station to Science Park Station with an original design loading of Green Line Passenger Car.
Constructed in May 2005, The bridge spans 135 feet over gravel and 162.75 feet over Leveret Circle. The bridge has a maximum width of 30 feet out to out.
The concrete composite deck has hairline cracks in the negative moment region.
A 45' lift truck was used to inspect the span over Leveret Circle and the span over gravel was inspected by ladder. Each girder's interior was accessed by hatches near ground level over the gravel.
When we tried to access the girders we had to cut the locks off with a grinder but one lock was already removed. When then heard and saw movement inside the girder. A homeless man had been living inside the girder. We notified our police details and they helped escort the tenant who left without incident. Inside the girders were filled with an accumulation of homeless peoples debris making for a difficult and unpleasant inspection.
Rules of the hole.....
