Accelerated Bridge Construction
University Transportation Center

ABC Project and Research Databases

2011 – UPRR Bridge 126.31

Year ABC Built: 2011
State: KS
County:
Owner: Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)
Location: Rural
Spans: > Three-span
Beam material: Concrete
Max Span Length (ft.): 29.83
Total Bridge Length (ft.): 150
Construction Equipment Category: Other ABC Method
ABC Construction Equipment: High-capacity crane(s)
State ID Number:
NBI Number:
Coordinates
Latitude:
39.2256012 | Longitude: -96.7470703
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Under Construction


Bridge Description

Project Summary:


Project Location:

Riley County, 8 miles west of the city of Manhattan in northeastern Kansas


Impact Category:

Tier 1 (within 1 day)


Mobility Impact Time:

ABC: 24-hr maximum closure allowed; 18-hr actual closure; Conventional: ABC is conventional for railroads


Primary Drivers:

reduced traffic impacts – The UPRR replaces bridges on active tracks using a very narrow window of closure time – to replace this specific bridge, the UPRR could only allow a 24-hour window of closure before the track must be active again; reduced onsite construction time


Dimensions:

150-ft long and 18.5-ft wide five-span precast prestressed concrete box girder railroad bridge (typical 29.83-ft-long spans)


Average Daily Traffic (at time of construction):

0


Traffic Management (if constructed conventionally):

Traffic management alternative, if constructed conventionally: railroads require ABC, to limit downtime


Existing Bridge Description:

In 2011 the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) went to contract to construct a four-lane highway facility to increase user capacity. The project required significant drainage improvements to the Eureka Valley Tributary (EVT). Critical to the hydraulic capacity was the replacement of the downstream Union Pacific Railroad Bridge 126.31. The 28-ft-long two-span timber trestle railroad bridge had to be replaced to increase the conveyance before the EVT could be operational. This was critical to the highway project schedule.


Replacement or New Bridge:

The replacement bridge has one rail track and a maintenance walkway. The cross-section consists of two 7-ft-wide 30-inch-deep adjacent two-cell precast prestressed box girders, topped with ballast and rails. The outside girder on one side was cast complete with walkway. The precast abutments, wingwalls, and pile caps were founded on braced steel H-piles.


Construction Method:

Prior to bridge closure, abutment piles were driven through the existing fill and track ties were removed and replaced as needed to access pile locations. The piles were driven to the required capacity and cut off at ground line or plan cutoff. Pile driving was completed without train delays by coordinating with the UPRR operations center and driving the piles between train runs.The bridge was then closed. The contractor excavated as needed and removed the bridge. Crews cut and ground the piles to the proper cutoff elevation, set the precast abutment and pile caps over the steel piles with a crane, and welded the cap-to-pile connections. Wingwalls were bolted onto the abutments. Sway and sash braces were welded on all bents. Backfill and compact granular fill were placed behind abutments. Rock riprap was placed and graded on slopes. Precast box girders were erected with the crane. Girder stops were welded to anchor the girders, and steel cover plates at girder joints were installed and welded. Track panels and ballast were placed. Precast ties were installed and track was raised. Track was released to run trains.


Stakeholder Feedback:
High Performance Material:

Project Planning

Decision Making Tools:
Site Procurement:
Project Delivery: Design-Bid-Build
Contracting: Full lane closure (i.e., full track closure)

Geotechnical Solutions

Foundations & Walls:
Rapid Embankment:

Structural Solutions

Prefabricated Bridge Elements: Adjacent box beams; Precast pile caps; Precast abutment cap w/backwall; Precast wingwalls
Prefabricated Bridge Systems:
Miscellaneous Prefabricated: Prefabricated railing

Costs & Funding

Costs:

The low bid was $364,000. There were seven bidders.


Funding Source:

Federal and State


Incentive Program:

Additional Information


Downloadable Resources

Contract Plans:

View 18-81-KA-0410-07_UPRR-over-EVT-Br-Repl-Plans-sal12631-final_4-1-11.pdf
View Reference-Drawings.pdf

Specifications:

Bid Tabs:

View SO-48790-Bid-Analysis.pdf

Construction Schedule:

View Up-Dated-Schedule-8-25-11.pdf
View 18-81-KA-0410-07_UPRR-over-EVT-Br-Repl-Plans-sal12631_UPRR-ChangeOut-Schedulel_4-1-11.pdf


Other Related Information:


Other Related URLs:


Photo Credits:

Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT); UPRR


Contacts

Brad Rognlie, P.E.
Senior Bridge Squad Leader
Kansas Department of Transportation
BradR@ksdot.org
785-296-4398