Gold Hard Hat Award(tie)
Highway 285 & Deer Creek Interchange
Submitted by Scott Contracting Inc.
The grade-separated Deer Creek Interchange involved the construction of two bridges, retaining walls, a new storm sewer system, earthwork and paving that allows county roads 43 and 72 to run under U.S. 285.
Most bridges are constructed by building the structure over the open and elevated area using cranes and false-work to place the support structure and bridge deck. The bridge structure for this project was constructed quite differently.
The post-tension bridge deck was actually poured on grade using existing soils to support the structure during construction. The contractor then excavated underneath the bridge deck to allow for construction of the new C.R. 72.
Project Team:
Bailey
$5.3 million
Owner: Colorado Dept. of Transportation
Contractor: Scott Contracting Inc.
Design Firm: CDOT
Start: Oct. 2008
Finish: Aug. 2009
Gold Hard Hat Award (tie)
I-270 Phase VI Flyover
Submitted by Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc.
The 2,281-ft flyover is the last phase of a six-phase, $153.3-million project that improves the I-25/U.S. 36/I-76/I-270-interchange complex, the only interchange of four expressways in Colorado. The flyover is expected to carry 17,300 vehicles a day by 2019
The CDOT Staff Bridge team developed the design for this bridge. The original design of the girders called for prestressed, curved girders. After initial investigation, it was determined that pretensioning could not be accomplished in a curve. With the help of Summit Engineering, the general contractor redesigned the girders from pretension to post tension.
The erection of the girders proved to be an immense challenge due to the internal post-tensioning compressive forces. In addition, a curved girder will roll when picked at the ends and will not be stable after it is set on temporary shoring, so several bracing measures had to be taken to stabilize the girders before pouring the deck, which locked in the structure.
Project Team:
Commerce City
$16.4 million
Owner: Colorado Dept. of Transportation
Contractor: Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc.
Design Firm: CDOT
Start: Nov. 2006
Finish: Feb. 2009
Silver Hard Hat Award
Cascade Village Skier Bridge
Submitted by Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc.
The skier bridge was built over an existing pedestrian bridge to address Cascade Village Metropolitan District’s need for a wider bridge to accommodate larger snow-grooming equipment. The bridge deck was increased from 10 to 20 ft.
To lower construction costs as well as decrease environmental impacts, the decision was made to leave the existing bridge mostly intact. The new structure was built by increasing the size of the abutments and setting two BT-42 girders adjacent to the existing bridge. Precast concrete panels were then placed between the new girders, effectively covering the existing bridge deck. An eight-in. concrete deck was placed to act as the final traffic surface.
Project Team:
Vail
$1.5 million
Owner: Cascade Village Metropolitan District
Contractor: Edward Kraemer & Sons Inc.
Design Firm: Lonco Inc.
Start: July 2008
Finish: Nov. 2008
Bronze Hard Hat Award
Powers Boulevard/Woodmen Road Interchange
Submitted by Wilson & Co. Inc.
The Powers Boulevard-Woodmen Road interchange project updated a simple at-grade, signal-controlled intersection to a partial cloverleaf grade-separated interchange in Colorado Springs.
The project improved safety and traffic flow, provided new ramps for better access to and from both roadways and now allows Powers Boulevard traffic to pass through the area without signals. The project also relocated existing utilities to prepare for future improvements on Woodmen Road. The project had been given a 20-month schedule, which was completed on time, closing lanes only during non-peak travel times.
Project Team:
Colorado Springs
$26 million
Owner: Colorado Dept. of Transportation
Contractor: R.E. Monks Construction
Consultant/Project Manager: Wilson & Co.
Engineer: URS
Start: Jan. 2007
Finish: Feb. 2009
