Millvale Borough North Avenue Bridge #4

Millvale Borough North Avenue Bridge #4 Construction

 

Millvale Borough North Avenue Bridge #4

Millvale Borough, North Avenue Bridge #4 Deck Construction



Case Study

Millvale Borough:

North Avenue Bridge Number 4

Millvale Borough, Allegheny County, PA

Project Description

The North Avenue Bridge #4 is located on North Avenue approximately 20 feet north of the intersection of Klopfer Street and North Avenue in Millvale Borough, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and carries North Avenue in a north-south direction over Girty's Run.  The bridge is skewed approximately 29 degrees from the roadway centerline and has a span of 26'-6" +/- measured along the chord from bearing to bearing.  The bridge has a 34' clear roadway width with 8'-0" sidewalks located on both sides of the structure.  The superstructure is constructed of steel rolled shapes 12 of which span from abutment to abutment.  The upstream fascia beams is a transfer beam constructed of two steel rolled shapes that span approximately 55’ and act as a girder carrying five smaller stringer beams.  The substructure is comprised of reinforced concrete cantilever abutments.  The foundations are reinforced concrete spread footings keyed into erodible rock.  The channel is lined with reinforced concrete retaining walls upstream and the abutments for Klopfer Street Bridge #5 downstream. A 9" diameter utility line is present beneath the structure and through the abutments. The Average Daily Traffic (both directions) is 4,500 vehicles.

Millvale Borough for over 10 years had fought to gain funding for the replacement of a single span vehicular bridge supporting the main access for business, industrial transit and port authority access.  The project was designed and funding was lost in a shuffle that occurred during the September 11, 2001 aftermath. 

             

Advocates for the project including the Department of Transportation, Allegheny County, and Local Officials, fought for the project to be funded and annual Testimonials to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission requesting inclusion on the Transportation Improvement Plan was successful and funding became available.

             

Some unique characteristics of this Bridge include attachment to the Klopfer Street Bridge, another structure currently posted at 10 tons. During construction repairs to the Klopfer Bridge were required due to the increase in traffic detoured over the structure.  Also a portion of the Bridge is a non-vehicular structure that actually supports a portion of the property designated for the VFW's use. 

The Bridge spans Girty's Run, a tributary to the Allegheny River at a significant skew.  This required very detailed elevation control and placement of concrete challenging.  The unique characteristics of Girty's Run required engineering expertise. In order to maintain the water way a built up beam was designed to minimize camber and allow for transition from the vehicular to non-vehicular structure.

Finally, the project included a bronze VFW memorial "Dough Boy", that the contractor was required to remove, store and replace as part of the project.  This memorial is currently held in very high regard and represents the pride and appreciation the Borough holds for all our brave veterans.    


Project Cost:  

$762,355.70

Penndot specifications:

PennDOT 408 Specifications

Date:

Bid Date February 2, 2005

Senate responsibilities:

Senate Inspection and Project Management  

 

Additional Bridge Features

 

Approach Roadway

Concrete sidewalks line both sides of the approaches.  No approach slabs or relief joints are present. Inlets are present at the near right and left corners and along the left side of the far approach. 

Deck

 

The wearing surface of the deck is the top side of the concrete deck. There is a 3’-6” concrete parapet along the left/upstream side of the structure.  The right/downstream end of the structure abuts the Klopfer Street bridge.

Superstructure

The superstructure is constructed of steel rolled shapes 12 of which span from abutment to abutment.  The upstream fascia beams is a transfer beam constructed of two steel rolled shapes that span approximately 55’ and act as a stringer carrying five smaller floor beams.

Substructure

The foundations consist of reinforced concrete spread footings keyed into the erodible rock beneath the stream channel.  The front face of the abutments are protected below the normal water elevation by concrete streambed paving.

Channel

 

The reinforced concrete retaining walls define the limits of the channel upstream. The downstream channel is defined by the abutments of the Klopfer Street Bridge. The channel alignment is straight both upstream and downstream of the structure. The channel itself is excavated into rock, and the walls and abutments bear on this rock.

 


                                                 420 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238   412-826-5454   info@senateengineering.com