As geotechnical/foundation engineers, we don’t usually get to see much of what happens on a project after the foundations are completed, especially a project like a large bridge that can take years to complete. Technology such as the Internet, webcams, and digital photography have made it easy for us to see how things are progressing on projects, as well as maybe get images of the completed structure. As I have noted before, some projects are using Twitter and Facebook to keep the public informed on closures, delays or overall project progress as part of good public relations. Her are some updates on a few of our recent projects.
The Spring 2010 issue of Deep Foundations from the Deep Foundations Institute includes an article by Dan and Paul (with a little help from yours truly!). The article is based on our paper presented by Dan at the 34th DFI Conference on Deep Foundations last October in Kansas City.
The kcICON project continues to roll along. Check out their Facebook page where they have lots of photos and links to their YouTube page. They recently completed the widest bridge deck pour ever for MoDOT.
Go to our Publications page to see the article, or click the image below.
The kcICON project in Kansas City, Missouri is using Facebook and YouTube as a public relations tool. They have recently posted new videos and pictures. The latest video is of demolition of one of the existing approach structures. It is all done for public relations, so the photos and videos are oriented for the general public, showing how the project is moving along, how their tax dollars are being spent, and providing information on lane closures, etc.
The kcICON Facebook page is here. The project website with more photos and a web cam is here. You can also follow the project on Twitter here.
I expect we’ll see more use of Facebook, Twitter, etc. on projects in the future. It appears to be effective, at least for the techno-savy crowd!
Dan, Paul and Erik were at the 34th Deep Foundations Institute Annual Conference in Kansas City last month. Dan was one of the keynote speakers where he presented our paper on the drilled shafts for the Missouri River Bridge on the kcICON project in Kansas City. Paul was also able to receive the Special Recognition Award (honorable mention) in the annual project awards for the pile foundations at the Biloxi Bay Bridge project.
I have added the paper that we wrote and Dan presented at the Deep Foundations Institute 34th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations that was held in Kansas City, MO late last month. The paper highlights how the design-build process was successful in the design and construction of the large diameter drilled shafts supporting the bridge. We discuss the installation methods used, the load test program, and how we evaluated the durability of the shale rock sockets under drilling fluid.
UPDATE (5/19/09):Here is an article the Kansas City Star on-line. It has links to photos and video.
Main Pylon under construction for Bond Bridge, Kansas City, MO
Work by DBA is all but compete on the kcICON project. All drilled shafts have been installed and base grouted. Construction of the shafts went very well, with no significant issues. Hayes Drilling installed all of the land-based shafts. AFT performed all of the base grouting.
The main pylon in the river continues to take shape. It won’t be long before PCC will have it looking like a bridge!
Paul has been “enjoying” observing drilled shafts at night and base grouting during the day. A collection of some of his photos from the last bits of shaft construction are below. He got some great shots of the pylon, including some out in the river.
I started on a post back in January, realizing I never finished it when I started writing a new one for this project. So, this one now covers a few months!
Work on the land bents began back in November, before it got really cold! There are 5 land-based bents (Bent 1 on the “south” side of the river and Bents 2 – 5 on the “north” side of the river). Work started with Bent 2 in November, of which Paul took a few photos that I have put into the slideshow below. After a pause for the holidays and scheduling, work on Bent 3 was started in January. The drilled shaft contractor, Hayes Drilling, begins shaft excavation in late afternoon so that that is completed early in the morning for concrete to be placed in the daytime. This means that Paul is verifying the low temperature forecasts of the local KC weather personalities, as well as messing up his sleep habits with many late nights (early mornings?) spent observing the shaft excavations. Paul writes concerning the progress as of this week:
The main pylon is beginning to take shape as the delta-tower rises out of the river. The drilled shafts are complete at Bents 2 and 3, including base-grouting for QA purposes. Despite encountering several difficult boulders right above bedrock, the shafts at Bent 4 have been installed and are awaiting base-grouting. Hayes has constructed three of the five shafts at Bent 5. When complete, they’ll move their operation to the south bank to complete the five shafts at Bent 1.
Pile sleeves have been installed behind the MSE walls at the north and south end bents and are awaiting HP14x73 piles. The piles at the south end bent will be driven after settlement of the fill is mostly complete. The north end bent piles will be installed upon completion of the Bent 5 shafts.
The MSE abutments are being constructed prior to pile driving, hence the sleeves (corrugated metal pipe) being set for the piles.
I have complied a slideshow from some of Paul’s latest pictures. There are a couple in there from early work on site. You can see the pylon tower in the river is coming on up!
Work is well underway on the main pylon foundation for the Christopher S. Bond Bridge on the kcICON project in Kansas City. By Labor Day, 4 of the 8 shafts (with 10.5-foot diameter rock sockets) will be completed. Construction of the shafts is progressing smoothly. The Pylon shafts may be completed as early as the end of September. Work on the land shafts will start sometime after Labor Day.
I have been slow in posting on the progress of our part in the kcICON project (see here for background and here for latest project images by MoDOT). The exploratory drilling went very well with a short pause due to ice in the river in late January. The crews from Terracon did an outstanding job getting the borings completed, overcoming the occasional problems with drilling tools deciding they did not want to come out of the hole.
Design work by Parsons on the main bridge proceeded (and is still ongoing) through the rest of winter and into the spring. In late April, PCC installed the test shaft in the middle of the pylon foundation with a 6-foot diameter rock socket 20 feet long. The shaft was tested using a group of 3 O-cells placed near the bottom of the shaft. The test yielded excellent results in both side shear and end bearing in the shale socket. Look for us to include the results in a future technical paper or journal article.
Design is continuing with the pylon shafts anticipated to be started in early July. The abutments and approach piers are schedule to be started later this summer or early fall.
The slide show embedded below has some photos of the exploratory drilling and the test shaft installation. Enjoy!
