Arch Design

The past few weeks I've been busy helping with the design of a few bridges. A few weeks ago we submitted our 90% bridge design for five bridge in western Mass. Two weeks ago we submitted our PS and E for an Inverset bridge up in central Mass. This past week we were very busy trying to get our 90% bridge design and 100% highway design finished.

Unlike the bridges in western Mass I was only able to design a few components of the arch in south eastern Mass but helped a lot with the drawings.

A taste of the designs which I accomplished this past month:

U-Wingwall

Curtain Wall

Backwall

Elastomeric Bearing

Retainer Plate

Bridge Rail

Pedestal

Chamber

Seismic

Thermalmovement

Drainage

Piece Weights for Precast Abutment backwall, stems and footings

Inverset Units from the Central Artery

Today I went up to Littleton MA to check dimensions on inverset units for a bridge that we are designing in Conway MA. The inverset units were used during the "Big Dig" while the Central Artery was being demolished. The units were designed to be re-used after the project in small bridges across Massachusetts.

The units we were looking at consists of three sections that will be assembled to complete the bridge much like double T's showing up at the site.

The project site in Conway is somewhat of a rural area, so it will be great to see these units reduce the construction time and labor at the site.

Bald Eagle out in Conway MA

Existing bridge in Conway to be replaced

This also reminded me of something I saw the other day showing abandoned projects that were to meant to be part of the green way were the Central Artery once was. I completely agree with most of the projects being abandoned but I wish the YMCA had been given a chance since it would have improved the North Station area greatly.

Lard in Littleton MA where some of the Inverset Units are stored for later use

Back to inverset units tho. These units will allow Massachusetts to quickly improve their infrastructure greatly by replacing small deteriorated structures throughout the state. Hopefully the Accelerated Bridge program at MassDOT will realize the full potential of these units before the units themselves deteriorate.

57 degrees out and still have snow up to our knees