Arroyo Pasajero Twin Bridges
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Arroyo Pasajero Twin Bridges
Features of the Bridge
Bridge Replacement
Sources
Where?
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/98julaug/planning.cfm
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/12/us/heavy-rains-roll-their-destructive-way-down-california-coast.html
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/I-5-Tragedy-Unites-Residents-Of-Rough-and-Tumble-3041270.php
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/95fall/p95au2.cfm
http://isddc.dot.gov/OLPFiles/FHWA/010590.pdf
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwlandsubside.html
Figure 1: Redesigned bridge under construction at the site of the collapse.
Consequences
Coalinga, California
Over the Arroyo Pasajero Creek
122 ft long
Carried a 4-lane interstate
Wing walls
3 piers (6 concrete columns per pier)
Vertical abutments
Web wall (8 or 12 ft)
$6 million to construct a new bridge
$550,000 lost travel time daily
Locals experienced increased fuel use
Loss of seven lives
Increased community efforts
What happened?
When?
Built: 1967
Collapsed: March 10, 1995
El Nino-Flooding/Regular flooding
Scouring around foundation
5 supports were taken out
Columns were exposed due to long-term degradation
33% increased drainage
Width of creek upstream of bridge was 300-400 ft
Land subsidence/slope
Figure 2: A visual of wing walls, abutments, and piers.
Source: http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=186699
Figure 3: A concrete bridge with web walls.
Source: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/13028/