Hays Street Bridge Rehabilitation

Patrick Sparks, P.E.

Approaches to Historic Bridge Rehabilitation

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Hays Street Bridge Rehabilitation San Antonio, Texas - viaduct over railroad, connecting historic

neighborhood to downtown Length: 1400-LF (1000-LF approach + 355-LF trusses) Date and Truss Spans:

1881 Whipple w/ Phoenix patent – 225-ft 1881 Pratt through - 130-ft

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San Antonio River

East side historic neighborhood

Downtown

Hays Street Bridge

Union Union Pacific RRPacific RR

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Hays Street Bridge Rehabilitation Completed: 2010 Construction Cost: $3.2 M Design Team:

Sparks Engineering, Inc. - Prime

Bender Wells Clark – Landscape Architects

Garcia & Wright – Civil Joshua Engineering -

Electrical Client/Owner: City of San

Antonio Contractor: Jay-Reese

Contractors

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Significant Issues Associated With Project Deteriorated and obstructive concrete

approaches Iron truss evaluation using nondestructive

methods Corrosion of floor beams, U-bolts, stiffeners, pins,

lateral struts built-up columns.

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Deteriorated and Obstructive Concrete Approaches

Obstruction High level of

deterioration Major cost item Street clearances Accessibility compliance Historic significance? 30-ft width

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How the Deterioration & Obstruction Issue was Resolved

New Concrete Approaches: Cast-in-place concrete

Reduced width to 15-ft Single piers, 40-ft spacing Concrete through girder

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Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Iron Trusses 1881 Pratt and Whipple

designs Phoenix wrought iron columns Cast-iron joint blocks Wrought iron eyebars Early laminated steel pins “Pneumatic Impact” method

by Vern Mesler

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Floor beams, u-bolts, stiffeners, pins, lateral struts, built-up columns

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Lessons Learned/ConclusionsSensitive and appropriate reconstruction of

1910 approaches saved money, made the project feasible, and improved the outcome for all stakeholders

Nondestructive evaluation was essential for unique 1881 cast-iron/wrought iron trusses.

Appropriate repair and preservation techniques were targeted, cost effective, not overly conservative, and durable.

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