Bridge Engineering 101 Introduction

Today’s Talk:
Part 2 -Planning and Design General Design Steps
 Planning to Construction
Bridge foundation types
Questa Engineering Corporation Environmental Review & Permits
Construction
Sydney Temple, P.E.

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Multi-Discipline Approach Basic Design Steps

Investigate the site
 Survey, Geotech, Hydrology, Biology
Structural Engineering Geomorphology
 Opportunities and constraints

Determine bridge type and location

Geotechnical Engineering Hydraulic Engineering 40% Design
Permitting
Final foundation and superstructure design
Civil Engineering Biologic Evaluations Construction drawings
Construction
Construction management
Planning and Permitting Geologic Evaluations

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Site Survey Data

Site Survey
 General topography for 100 feet upstream/downstream min.
 Channel slopes
 Long profile at 350 feet upstream and downstream
 Existing structure data
 Slope, shape, dimensions, top of roadway, top of culvert, apron
slopes and wing wall geometries
 Make sure bridge approach roads are surveyed including edge of
pavement, roadway crowns, super elevations
 Map utilities and nearby structures

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 1
 Site Analysis Geotechnical Investigations

Site analysis: Regional geologic and seismic

 Geotechnical Considerations conditions
 Hydrologic/Hydraulic Studies Local Soil conditions
 Geomorphic Considerations Local Geologic hazards
Biologic issues

Subsurface exploration
 Bridge Layout
Design recommendations

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Types of Drilling
Subsurface Investigations

Exploratory holes; 10 - 100+ feet

Soil samples are collected for analytical
testing
Perform Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
sampling for strength characteristics (I.e.
Blow Counts/ft)
Determines groundwater levels

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Geotechnical Reports
Summarize geological hazards
Local site conditions
Provide recommendations for
foundation design

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 2
 H & H Investigations
Hydrology data
 Regional source – Flood Control Agencies
 Site specific modeling
Hydraulics analysis
 Governmental sources; Caltrans, FEMA,
and County Flood Control Agencies
 Complete site specific analysis

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Design Water Surface Elevations

Hydraulic Design Criteria and Freeboard

Project Site
 Vary by Jurisdiction
 50-year with 2 ft of freeboard
 100-year with at least 1 ft freeboard
 Levees – three feet of freeboard

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Geomorphic Analysis
Vertical & Lateral creek movement
 Sediment transport
 Bankfull channel
 Low-Flow (scour line) channel

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 3
 Determining Vertical and Lateral
Creek Movement Lateral movement
Historic profile analysis
Existing condition long profile analysis
Historic air photo examination
Historic topographic map analysis

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Longitudinal Profile Analysis

150
Driscoll Road

Palm Avenue

140
Flow Line Elevation (ft)

130
120 SF Aqueduct,
concrete
110 Mitigated Knickpoint (armored)

100 Un-mitigated Knickpoint

90
80
Reach 1 Reach 2 Reach 3

70
-1+50 3+50 8+50 13+50 18+50 23+50 28+50 33+50

River Station (ft)

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Fall 2003 March 2005

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 4
 Biological Reconnaissance
Special-Status Species
Existing Habitat ID and Mapping
OHW/Wetland Delineation
CNDDB Search

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Bridge Layout – Structure Positioning

Right of Way
Alternative alignments
Approaches
 ADA Requirements
Traffic/Roadway design issues
Utilities

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Roadway Design Issues

Alignments
Approach elevations
Vertical curves- approach slopes
Will you need embankments or other
retaining structures?

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 5
 Bridge Widths
Typical trail - 10 feet width
Major trail - 12 foot width lanes plus 2
feet of railing/curb
Single lane = 18 feet, 14 feet between
railings/curbs
Two Lane = 28 feet, 24 feet between
railings/curbs

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Bridge Design and Impacts

Goal: shortest bridge with the least

amount of impact
Design Criteria
 Passes design flows with freeborad
 50-year with 2 ft of freeboard
 100-year with at least 1 ft freeboard
 No increase in flood threat
 Minimizes scour and deposition

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Planning Level Bridge Costs

Pedestrian Bridge construction costs in northern California
 $125-$140 per square feet (sf) for cast in place concrete,
 $115-$150 per sf for prefabricated bridges.
 $1,500 per lineal foot

Traffic Rated Bridges

 Two Lane light to medium traffic
 $350-500 sf
 Major arterial structures
 $600-$750 sf

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 6
 Project Permit Documents
Project Concept

Site Map
Water of the USCOE Jurisdictional Area
Environmental Flood Control CEQA Project Description
Permits Public Safety Certification
 Detailed
 Alternatives examined/project justification
Permits  40% design drawings
Project Analysis
 Technical analysis or separate back up design
memorandum (H&H, Geotech, etc.)
Implementation Biologic Reconnaissance

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Project Description CEQA Review

Project Justification Site plan Categorical Exemption
Project channel bed profiles Initial Study Preparation
Project cross section views
Mitigated Negative Declaration
Habitat enhancement features
EIR/EIS
Limits of work, Mobilization
Area of impact Lead Agency
 USCOE, riparian area, vegetated area  City, County or Special District
Determination of cut and fill quantities  State for some grant funded projects

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Environmental Permits USCOE Permits

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permit
 Endangered Species Act Consultation
California Department of Fish & Game
Streambed Alteration Agreement
Regional Water Quality Control Board
 Water Quality Certification & General Stormwater
Construction Permit
Coastal Development Permit
Reviews application and notifies
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) and/or US Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS)
 May ask for formal or informal consultation
 May require preparation of a Biologic
Opinion (BO) and/authorization for take
 NMFS will review Fish passage analysis

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 7
 Streambed Alteration
Agreements Coastal Development Permit
CDFG staff review Usually processed through the County
Must have CEQA completed to issue May require architectural review
Includes impacts to riparian areas May require separate monitoring
protocols

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Permit Timeline Design Breakdown

6 month is likely minimum Foundation design
1 year is not out of the question Bridge deck design
NMFS and USFWS have 135 days Channel Design if needed
CDFG - 30 days
Coastal Development Permit – 6
months+

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AASHTO & Caltrans Typical Light-Duty Bridge Crossing Profile

American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials
National Association which establishes and
100 100

 90 90

promotes highway construction and safety 80 80

standards.
100.2

100.2

100.2

100.2

100.2
94.4
94.4

94.3
95.3

94.1
96.2

93.5
97.1

93.1
98.0

90.7
98.8

89.7
99.7

86.0

82.9

81.2

83.9

86.5

92.5
99.2

96.0
98.2

97.0
97.2

96.8
96.7

California Department of Transportation 0+00 0+40 0+80 1+20 1+60 2+00 2+40 2+80 2+91

 Manages State Highway System

 Issues permits for encroachment into state owned
highways and properties

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 8
 Required Load Capacity
and Anticipated Uses

Public Trails -
Pedestrian/Bicycle/Equestrian/Disabled Users

Light-Duty – Typically Residential

Automobiles/Light Trucks

Highway Traffic – Heavy Trucks HS20-25 loads

(AASHTO Load Standards)

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Bridge Foundation Considerations Foundation Types - Spread Footings

Required Load Capacity and Anticipated Uses Relatively shallow reinforced concrete mats to
Site Conditions & Geotechnical Investigations distribute bridge loads over wide area of supporting
Foundation Types soils.
 Spread Footings Advantages
Typically least expensive option
 Driven Piles 

 Minimal equipment mobilization requirements

 Drilled Cast-In-Place Piers
Disadvantages
– Not suitable over soft or liquefiable soils
– Minimal resistance to undermining or slope instability
– Moderate to heavy site disruptions

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Typical Spread Footing Bridge Foundation

Foundation Types - Driven Piles
Tubular and Sheet Steel, Reinforced Concrete or
Composite Piles driven into soils using a dropped
weight or piston hammer, applied typically in marine
settings.
Advantages
 Minimal site disruption
 Provides support over soft or variable subgrade conditions
 Applied in areas prone to flooding or with very soft soils
Disadvantages
 Requires mobilization of large equipment and materials
 Requires minimum embedment depth into soil

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 9
 Reinforced Concrete Piles Being Installed in a Marine
Environment
Foundation Types - Drilled
Cast-In-Place Piers
Drilled holes filled with cast-in-place reinforced
concrete piers.
Advantages
 Typically provides greatest resistance to vertical and lateral
loads
 Provides excellent resistance to scour
 Used in steep and/or unstable slope areas
Disadvantages
 Typically highest cost
 Difficult to apply in areas of shallow ground water or loose
soils
 Moderate site disruptions

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Drilled Pier Foundation Design for Timber Framed

Bridge Photo of Drilled Cast-In-Place Pier Installation

3'-4"
1'

1'
14'-8"
3" COVER
4 #5
12"

7 #4

#4 HOOPS @12" O.C. 9 #5

3'-8" 7 #4
SECTION C-C'
5'-8" #4 BARS
2 '-4" FOR STEM WALL

#4 BAR

12" 7 #4
12"
B B

#4 #5 8" 8"
12" 12" 14'-8"

#4 HOOPS @12" O.C.

#4 HOOPS @12" O.C. #4 HOOPS @12" O.C.

4 #5
4 #5 4 #5
5
8"
X 12" ANCHOR
BOLT @ 48" O.C.

10'-0"
10'-0"

C C'

3" COVER
3" COVER 3" COVER 12"

12" 3' COVER 3" COVER

12" 3' MIN. 12"

SECTION A-A' SECTION B-B' PLAN

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Public Safety Permits

County/ City Building Permits
 Structural & Roadway Design Review
 Floodplain Management
Caltrans
 Primarily concerned with impacts to their
facilities and safety
 Maintenance responsibility

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 10
 County/City Review Construction Drawings
Reviews detail plans and calculations Plan set
 Roadway design  Site Plan and layout
 Structural design  Foundation plans
 Geotechnical design  Superstructure plans
 Flood control  Road or trail plans
 Erosion Control
 Ancillary structures

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Construction Specifications
Bidding instructions
Work hours
Contracting requirements
Construction and material specifications

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Picture of ferrasci improvements Construction Factors

Site and Channel Access
Work Conditions
Biological monitoring
Restricted Seasons
Mobilization and Staging Areas
Materials Storage Areas
Dewatering
Limits of Work

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Introduction to Bridge Design and

Construction 11
 Construction Sequence
Water control
Foundation construction
 Drilling
 Concrete forming
Grading
Installation or construction
Approach construction
Erosion control

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Contact Info
Sydney Temple
Questa Engineering Corp.
Stemple@questaec.com
(510) 236-6114 ext 220

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Construction 12