HIGHLAND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, DENVER, CO
Three fatalities resulted from a bridge construction site shoring failure on I70 in Denver, Colorado, on May 15, 2004. As a direct result of this event, and in accordance with recommendations issued by NTSB, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) revised their Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction on August 9, 2004.
At Section 509, Subsection 509.27 “Erection of Steel Structures”, CDOT required a Colorado Professional Engineer to devise a detailed erection plan on behalf of the contractor. Conferences and on-site inspections were required and the contractor’s engineer was required to sign off in writing on each phase of the installation prior to allowing vehicles or pedestrians on or below the structure.
The 2006 Highlands Bridge over Interstate 25 through downtown Denver was therefore erected under the provisions of the new CDOT specifications, requiring the east and west shoring of the initial two arch sections, suspended over I25, to be designed and supervised by an engineer. L. J. Mott, PE, was ultimately responsible for shoring design, erection, rigging, and construction engineering for the three main arch sections.
Following rigging and anchorage operations, written authorization to reopen traffic on I25 through downtown Denver, Colorado, was issued by L. J. Mott, PE.
HIGHLIGHTS OF FINITE ELEMENT MODELING PROCESS
With emphasis on suspended two crane rotation of 100,000 lb center arch section prior to placement between previously installed east and west arch sections
ERECTION PROCESS
