Long Bridges Over Water
Four Bears Bridge
Four Bears Bridge crosses Lake Sakakawea on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation,
providing critical access to the medical clinic, casino and tribal dancing grounds. The
4,500' long structure has 316’ typical spans that were erected in balanced cantilever.
A FIGG Bridge Design CharetteTM was held with the public to select the aesthetic
elements in conjunction with the theme of “The Three Affiliated Tribes", the residents
of Fort Berthold. During the charette participants voted for the unique pier shape,
linear library along the pedestrian walkway, tribal medallions above the piers and
aesthetic lighting. North Dakota’s first concrete segmental bridge has earned ten
design awards, including a Globe Award for environmental awareness, presented by
the American Road & Transportation Builders’ Association.
Long Bridges Over Water
Garcon Point Bridge
The Garcon Point Bridge exemplifies a community’s perseverance to construct a
much-needed bridge using non-traditional forms of funding. Innovative financing was
used to fund the project, including $8.5 million in state loans and $95 million in
revenue bonds, backed by the future toll revenues of the bridge. The 18, 425’ long
precast concrete segmental bridge was built in 29 months, completed one month
ahead of schedule and dedicated on May 8, 1999. In May 1998, seven 140’ (980’)
spans were erected in seven consecutive days, setting a world record for precast
concrete segmental span-by-span construction speed. The Florida Institute of
Consulting Engineers honored it with a 2000 Grand Award.
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James Burrow Edwards Bridge
The 300’/400’/300’ precast concrete segmental main span was erected using a unqiue
combination of balanced and uni-directional cantilever, protecting the environment and
maintaining the shipping channel through construction. The twin structures of this
7,900' long bridge are part of the Mark Clark Expressway (I-526). At a bid cost of $34
million, $11 million was saved at the time of bid against the alternate steel and precast
I-girder design. Cost savings features include precast piers, which were erected as
quickly as 100’ of pier in a single day. Prior opening to traffic in 1991, the bridge
successfully endured Hurricane Hugo of Category Four intensity.
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Long Key Bridge
This bridge was completed eight months ahead of schedule in June 1982 at cost of
$29 per square foot ($15.3 million). In 1982, the Federal Highway Administration
honored the bridge with a first place award for cost saving innovations stating,
"Concrete segmental Long Key Bridge saved $2.6 million over an alternate
conventional I-beam design."
Long Key Bridge will celebrate its 30th birthday in 2010 - and remains a landmark
bridge for the many unique features incorporated in its design that are relevant today.
While many of the design features were revolutionary at the time, those same
concepts have stood the test of time and continue to be incorporated in FIGG bridge
designs today...providing efficient and economical bridges.
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Mid-Bay Bridge
The Mid-Bay Bridge stretches gracefully across the Choctawhatchee Bay. The uniform
shapes and constant depth superstructure fit the vast open waterway, spanning
19,265'. Innovative financing with revenue bonds supported by the tolls allowed the
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority to achieve this important transportation link when
government funding was not available. The bridge has received four design awards
since it’s completion on June 26, 1993.
The 19,265' long precast concrete segmental bridge was built in 25 months,
completed five months ahead of schedule and on budget.
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Sailboat Bridge
Sailboat Bridge over the Grand Lake of the Cherokees was the first precast concrete
segmental bridge in Oklahoma. The FIGG design resulted in a savings of $1 million
when bid against a bulb-tee alternate. The twin bridges, each with 25 spans, were
completed in June 2001, more than two months ahead of schedule. The precast
segments incorporate an extra 1" thick layer of concrete for use as an integral wearing
surface. The smooth riding surface was measured with a profilograph, scoring the
highest rideability score of any structure in Oklahoma and earning an award as the
best bridge constructed in the state in 2001, along with two other design awards.
Long Bridges Over Water
Seven Mile Bridge
At the time of its completion in 1982, Seven Mile Bridge (35,867’ long) in the Florida
Keys was the longest continuous concrete segmental bridge in the world. The bridge
utilizes a precast, post-tensioned box girder superstructure and hollow precast
segmental piers, which increased the speed of erection. The structure was completed
six months ahead of schedule and has earned eight awards, including an Exceptional
Award for Cost Savings Innovation from the Federal Highway Administration. The
bridge’s 264 spans carry the Overseas Highway. FIGG’s segmental alternate saved
$7 million when bid against an alternate design.
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Susquehanna River Bridge
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, crosses the Susquehanna River on the
Commonwealth’s first concrete segmental bridge for vehicles. During a FIGG Bridge
Design Charette with the owner, representatives of the commission determined many
aspects of the design, including superstructure and substructure shapes, an open
bridge railing, aesthetic lighting options and pier articulation that visually links the
structure to the nearby Turnpike Headquarters facility. The twin structures are 5,910' in
length and were erected span-by-span with delivery of the pre-cast segments over the
previously completed spans. The bridge has earned five awards, including the
Pennsylvania Council of Engineering Companies 2008 Engineering Excellence
Diamond Grand Conceptor award.
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I-90 Third Lake Washington Approaches
The approaches to the Third Lake Washington Bridge floating bridge structure consist of
four structures with a total length of 4,810'. The cast-in-place segmental bid of $26.1
million saved the owner $10.6 million (29%) over the alternate design. This structure
required special design and detailing for the high seismic area, as well as being
designed to accommodate future transit loading. The bridge carries I-90 over Lake
Washington and was completed in October 1987. These aesthetic approaches received
the 1992 International Bridge Conference’s George S. Richardson Medal.
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Wiscasset Bridge
Northeast United State’s first precast concrete segmental bridge saved the Maine
Department of Transportation $4 million when bid against a steel design alternate.
Opened to traffic in 1983, this 2,719' long bridge has proven that precast segmental
concrete bridges are a durable and economical answer to harsh northern winters.
A unique foundation design allowed for rapid construction of the piers which are faced
with granite at the water line for protection against large ice floe damage. Precast
segments were delivered onto and erected from the previously completed span on an
underslung support frame using span-by-span construction.
Winner of three awards, including the Post-Tensioning Institute 1984 Award of
Excellence.