Stretching 2153 miles and the second longest interstate within the U.S., I-70 nearly runs coast-to-coast with Missouri at its centerpoint. Needless to say, it is a critical part of the US infrastructure. So, how do you demolish an existing overpass bridge without closing down the entire interstate during a busy summer weekend?
Engaged as the Structural Engineer of Record, Structures, Inc. determined the live loads on the bridge deck with multiple excavators stripping away decking and rebar as they moved backward during demolition. Once stripped, the existing moment connections would incur significant live loads which needed to be calculated. Utilizing RISA 3-D software, Structures, Inc. engineers were able to calculate those loads and simulate the stresses incurred as demolition took place, resulting in an incident-free project and lots of happy travelers.