BE Magazine - Volume 6, Issue 1 - (Page 22)

Best Practices – Bridges Renewing Conﬁdence in Public Highway Infrastructure Urgent design-build required close communication among more than 400 design and construction professionals L ess than 14 months after the I-35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1, 2007, the new I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge opened to trafﬁc with well-deserved fanfare. Building a high-quality replacement bridge as quickly as possible helped to curtail the bridge closure’s $400,000-per-day drain on the local economy as well as instill renewed conﬁdence in the safety of public highway infrastructure. BE AWARD NOMINEE I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge Organization: FIGG Category: Innovation in Road and Bridge The design-build team of Flatiron-Manson Joint Venture and Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc. (FIGG) used MicroStation combined with 3D PDF ﬁles to help pull off a feat that would have taken four years at a normal design-bid-build project delivery pace. The original eight-lane steel truss bridge provided direct access to downtown Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota, and business and suburban destinations for over 140,000 vehicles each day. The new 10-lane concrete bridge beneﬁts from advanced technologies that its predecessor did not have, such as smart sensors that detect the wear and tear of daily trafﬁc and transmit real-time data to the Minnesota DOT for instant analysis. High-performance concrete also provides superior durability and lower maintenance costs for the 1,223-foot-long, 189-foot-wide structure. The design-build method required close communication among all parties and access to information by the entire team, which included more than 400 design and construction professionals. Using MicroStation allowed for seamless data sharing, speed, and accuracy throughout the designbuild project. As a result, high-quality design documents translated directly into constructible solutions. Construction sequencing was planned using 3D model assemblies that simulated the construction process. For the areas with extensive reinforcing and post tensioning, such as the main pier diaphragms, FIGG created 3D PDF ﬁles of the reinforcing steel drawings. This allowed the designers to review the reinforcing from all angles, make adjustments, and color code the reinforcing bars for easy identiﬁcation during ﬁeld placement. The 3D models were used in meetings with Flatiron-Mason to simulate the construction sequence by activating each element in the model in the planned order of placement. “We were building the reinforcing cage in a meeting before actually doing it in the ﬁeld,” said Linda Figg, president, CEO, and director of Bridge Art at Florida-based FIGG. This saved valuable man-hours during construction under severe weather conditions described as brutally cold in the winter. Construction crews worked day and night shifts seven days a week to beat the accelerated schedule and ﬁnish the bridge more than three months early. “The Minnesota DOT had a vision for safety, quality, and innovation,” explained Figg. “Bentley’s software gave us the best production tools to achieve the quality and speed needed for success. This bridge sets an example of the kind of achievements that are possible with teamwork, innovation, and efﬁcient computer technology.” The I-35W bridge catastrophe awakened the country to the dire state of the nation’s rapidly aging infrastructure. With bridge safety gaining greater visibility, engineering and construction professionals are challenged to deliver quality projects on compressed schedules. The designbuild team tasked with building the I-35W replacement bridge also bore the responsibility of restoring public conﬁdence in the safety of crossing the Mississippi River. Flatiron-Mason-FIGG demonstrated what can be accomplished when Bentley’s software is applied in conjunction with extensive experience delivering technically challenging bridge projects. “For more than a year, the citizens of the Twin Cities had to endure detours and loss of business associated with the closure of the I-35W bridge,” Figg concluded. “Having the bridge completed and reopening this vital interstate highway will reduce travel time, save energy, and boost the local economy.” 22 Be Magazine | Volume 6 Issue 1 http://www.bentley.com/en-GB/Products/microstation product line/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of BE Magazine - Volume 6, Issue 1

BE Magazine - Volume 6, Issue 1 Contents Anticipation’s Name Is V8i Be Awards of Excellence Kicks Off Competition Bentley Launches the Most Comprehensive SoftwarePortfolio for Infrastructure Ever Assembled in a Single Release MicroStation V8i Up Close & Personal Is Water the New Oil? How Does Intent Become Reality? Does Performance Create Sustainability? Renewing Confidence in Public Highway Infrastructure Enterprisewide System Manages International Airport Standardized CAD/GIS Platform Streamlines Infrastructure Engineering 3D Modeling Refines Reusable Design for Plant Prototype Lean Teams Deliver Automotive Assembly Plants Through Innovative Use of BIM Integrated 3DModels Enable Compact and Safe Plant Design Sustainable Development Supports Thriving Community Terminal Pumps Natural Gas Through Longest Subsea Pipeline Large UtilityWorks To Reduce SO2 Emissions Aging Power Station Boosts Engineering Productivity Hydropower Dam To Fuel Growing Economy Collaboration Tools Accelerate Chinese Railway Electrification System Design Rapid Rail Link To Meet Socio-Economic Development Goals High-CapacityWastewater Treatment Facility ReclaimsWater Resources City ExpandsWater SupplyWithout Deploying AdditionalWater Resources Private Calling Meets Public Service Learning Paths Map Skill Development for Infrastructure Professionals A Contemporary Approach to Site Design The Art of Visualization Special Feature: Be Communities Physical + Digital Investments = Intelligent Infrastructure

BE Magazine - Volume 6, Issue 1

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