Accelerated Bridge Construction
University Transportation Center

ABC Project and Research Databases

2013 – I-5 / Skagit River Bridge Span 8 Replacement

Year ABC Built: 2013
State: WA
County:
Owner: State
Location: Rural
Spans: > Three-span
Beam material: Concrete
Max Span Length (ft.): 163
Total Bridge Length (ft.): 1111.75
Construction Equipment Category: Lateral Slide
ABC Construction Equipment: Lateral slide w/pads (skid tracks and horizontal jacks); high-capacity crane on barge
State ID Number: 5/712
NBI Number: 0004794A
Coordinates
Latitude:
48.4432983 | Longitude: -100
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Under Construction


Bridge Description

Project Summary:

In 2013, a steel through truss span of the I-5 Skagit River Bridge collapsed, as a result of a high-load impact to the sway frames. A temporary Acrow bridge was erected to reopen the roadway. The permanent span of precast prestressed deck-bulb tee girders was constructed adjacent to the temporary span. Within a single day of roadway closure, a horizontal skid track system was used to relocate the temporary span and install the permanent span.


Project Location:

Interstate 5 across the Skagit River between the cities of Mount Vernon and Burlington in northwestern Washington State


Impact Category:

Tier 1 (within 1 day)


Mobility Impact Time:

The interstate remained operational for 208 days with the temporary span in place, during the design and construction of the permanent span. Therefore, the expected time to construct the bridge conventionally would at least have required the 208 days.


Primary Drivers:

(1) Emergency replacement. (2) Maintain existing alignment. (3) Reduced traffic impacts – interstate traffic, including daily commuter, local tourism and interstate trucking; a significant ABC benefit was to minimize the detour traffic in the local communities, which caused significant impact to local retail.


Dimensions:

The existing bridge was four steel through truss main spans (simple spans), eight concrete girder spans. The collapsed span was one of the steel through truss spans. The replacement span is eight W65DG lightweight prestressed concrete deck bulb tee girders with 1.5" concrete overlay, spaced at 7.25'. The replacement span was 60' wide and 163' long.


Average Daily Traffic (at time of construction):

71000


Traffic Management (if constructed conventionally):

After the span collapsed, the interstate traffic was detoured through city streets to a nearby bridge, crossing the river. The detour was 3 miles long. A temporary Acrow bridge was constructed as a temporary span while the permanent span was constructed adjacent to the Acrow bridge. The interstate was detoured for 27 days. The interstate was detoured for an additional day to slide the temporary bridge and slide the permanent span. Conventional construction would have required an additional 200+ days.


Existing Bridge Description:

The existing bridge was four steel through truss main spans (each 160' simple spans), eight concrete girder spans (48' to 84'). The collapsed span was one of the steel through truss spans. The bridge carries two lanes in each direction.


Replacement or New Bridge:

The new permanent span was constructed adjacent to the temporary span (east side), on temporary steel pile supported bents. The permanent span consisted of eight W65DG prestressed deck bulb tee girders using lightweight concrete. The temporary span was slid off to the west, onto temporary steel pile supported bents. Using the same track alignment, the permanent span was slid into the permanent location, to the west.


Construction Method:

The temporary and permanent spans were slid in one day using Teflon surface skid tracks and horizontal jacks. The skid distance for each move was approximately 75′.


Stakeholder Feedback:

Lightweight girders can be used to limit weight replaced on existing foundations. Headed bars used for flange connection between adjacent deck bulb tees can cause interference if sufficient placement tolerance is not provided. Using full depth flange connection (instead of welded ties) provided a shear – flexure transfer joint, permitting the use of distribution factors that eliminated one line of girder.


High Performance Material:

Lightweight concrete in prestressed girders.



Project Planning

Decision Making Tools:
Site Procurement:
Project Delivery: (1) Emergency Contract - used to remove collapsed span and construct temporary Acrow span. (2) Design-Build Contract - used to construct permanent span and slide temporary and permanent spans.
Contracting: A+B+C bidding

Geotechnical Solutions

Foundations & Walls: Reused Substructure/Foundation Unit
Rapid Embankment:

Structural Solutions

Prefabricated Bridge Elements: Adjacent deck bulb T beams
Prefabricated Bridge Systems: FDcBc (full-width concrete-decked concrete beam unit) - total superstructure span slid into place on existing foundation
Miscellaneous Prefabricated: LWC beams; high-strength CIP reinforced closure joint; micro-silica concrete overlay

Costs & Funding

Costs:

Design-Build contract best value $6.9M.


Funding Source:


Incentive Program:

Additional Information

Contract plans are available below. This was a design / build project; therefore, no specifications or estimates are available.


Downloadable Resources

Contract Plans:

View Plans_WA_I-5-Skagit.pdf

Specifications:

Bid Tabs:

Construction Schedule:


Other Related Information:


Other Related URLs:


Go to: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/fulltext/Bridge/Skagit_TechNotes.pdf
Go to: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I5/SkagitRiverBridgeReplacement
Go to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/albums/72157633665218854

Photo Credits:

Washington State Department of Transportation


Contacts

Bijan Khaleghi,
P.E.
State Bridge Design Engineer
Washington State Department of Transportation
khalegb@wsdot.wa.gov
360-705-7181

Submitter:
Jed Bingle P.E.
Accelerated and Innovative Bridge Construction (ABC) Specialist
Washington State Department of Transportation
binglej@wsdot.wa.gov
360-705-7222

Designer:
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Victor Ryzhikov, P.E.
Ryzhikov@pbworld.com
813-520-4367

Fab1:
Concrete Technologies Corporation
Fabricated lightweight prestressed girders.
(253) 383-3545

Contractor:
Max J Kuney