George P. Coleman Bridge Replacement

Client: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)

Project location: Georgetown, Virginia

Project cost: $ 103 million

 

Tidewater Construction Corporation (TCC) was retained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to replace the two-lane George P. Coleman Bridge and its approaches with new structures accommodating four lanes. Having an overall length of 2,540 feet, the bridge had six main steel truss spans with the longest 560 feet long and weighing 4,000 tons. Two of the spans were designed as swing sections, allowing the bridge to open for the passage of tall ships.

 

This approach enabled TCC to complete the installation in a mere nine days, earning the VDOT's gratitude (and a substantial bonus). But the solution created complex engineering issues of its own. DMJM Harris solved those issues by conducting myriad calculations of load stresses, shear forces, chord deformations and structural requirements. Since most hydrodynamic analysis tools were not designed to consider the interaction among two barges and an interconnecting span, DMJM Harris developed its own analysis approach, using pre-and post-processors to generate, organize and dissect the load requirements. After meticulously modeling each bridge span, the barges and the towers, the firm designed load equalizer systems that would make the system work, reducing the support steel required by 110 tons in the process. The work was so successful that TCC expanded DMJM Harris's scope to include final design of the entire support system and necessary bridge strengthening.