The Primrose East Bridge

PRIMROSE EAST BRIDGE

Implementation of Folded Plate Technology & Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated

Bridge System

2016 Concrete Paving WorkshopJason Volz

NDOR Construction

Primrose BridgePrimrose East Bridge:

• Constructed Fall 2014

• On a county road east of Primrose

• Contractor: Simon Contractors

• Designer: NDOR Bridge Division

Primrose BridgeNew Technologies:

• GRS Abutment• Folded Plate

Girder• Ultra-High

Performance Concrete

Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) Integrated Abutment:

• Accelerated Construction

• No Crane/Pile Hammer

• No Specialized Labor

Folded Plate Girder:

• Developed at UNL

• Light Weight

Ultra High Performance Concrete:

• 21,000 psi at 28-days

• Narrow Joints• Minimal

Shrinkage

Primrose BridgeOther Innovative Features:

• Pre-Fabricated Bridge Elements

• Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC)

DECK CONSTRUCTION:

• Girders Delivered July 1st

• Offsite location used for casting deck

GIRDER DELIVERY• Elevation and

Layout of Girders Matched Bridge

SHORED CONSTRUCTION• No Camber in

Girders• Required

Continuous Unyielding Support

DECK FORMING• Formed and

poured all at once

• Prevented problems with bar interference

DECK POUR• 47BD-4000• White Pigment/

Wet Burlap Cure

8” DECK JOINT• Required

exposed aggregate finish.

• Forms treated with set-retarder

• Power washed 12-24 hours after pour

LIFTING DEVICES• Orientation

required two cranes

BRIDGE SITE• Large Drainage

Area • Flooding

Overtopped Road

• Road Closed for Construction Sept 15

GRS ABUTMENT • 2’ Reinforced

Soil Foundation• 13’ GRS

Abutment• 4’ Integrated

Approach

EXCAVATION• Unsuitable

material removed and replaced with granular fill

• Layout of delivered materials

REINFORCED FOUNDATION• 2 ft thick

“Burrito” beneath abutment and wings

• Extra layer of fabric on abutment side

LEVELING COURSE• Critical to

maintaining wall alignment

• <0.5” of granular to help level

GRS Abutment• Step 1: Place

block

GRS Abutment• Step 1: Place

block• Step 2: Place

Select Granular Backfill and compact

GRS Abutment• Step 1: Place

block• Step 2: Place

Select Granular Backfill and compact

• Step 3: Place Geosynthetic Fabric

CMU BLOCK WALL• Red line at

berm elevation for scour monitoring

• Hollow vs solid block

• Split face block

LOADING GIRDERS • 4 -Flatbed

Trucks• 2-Cranes

SETTING GIRDERS• No rebar

interference problems

UHPC EQUIPMENT• 3.5 cuft mixers• Shipped to site

in advance

UHPC QUALITY CONTROL• All ingredients

are measured out

• Every batch is tested

UHPC JOINT FORMING• Formed an 1/8”

high• Chimneys at 8’

spacing

UHPC JOINT GRINDING• Grind 1/8’” to

remove voids• Hand grinders

vs bump grinder

VOIDS IN UHPC• Filled with non-

cement grout

WATER TESTING OF JOINTS• Joints were

water tight, no additional sealing required

OPEN TO TRAFFIC• November 19th

Special ThanksSimon Contractors:

• Dale Burkhead –Project Manager• Sid Smith – Project Superintendent

NDOR District 3• Steve Trosper – Project Manager• Monty Koch- Project Inspector

NDOR Bridge• Fouad Jaber – Asst. State Bridge Engineer• Steve Ferguson- Designer

Boone County• Darrel Thorin – Highway Superintendent