Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

Home , Savage Mountain, Susquehanna River Bridge

Gary L. Graham, P.E. Bridge Engineering Manager, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

Welcome to the 2004 Interna- from the Pennsylvania Motor Truck fense Highways was legislated and tional Bridge Conference. The Association, proposed the idea of funded by Congress. The PTC was Pennsylvania Turnpike Commis- building a four-lane, all-weather, the forerunner of all other toll sion is proud to be this year’s Fea- toll road utilizing the old aban- roads in the country. tured Agency and the first doned South Penn Railroad bed. Due to the success of the origi- “Agency” to be featured by this Many thought the idea of building nal section of the Turnpike, other prestigious Conference in its his- a highway, and a toll road at that, extensions followed. It was ex- tory. We are excited to share the through the rugged barriers of the tended to Valley Forge in the east many chapters of our history, and Alleghenies and across so many Pennsylvania Turnpike, circa 1940 in 1950, and then onto the New to present our current and future waterways, was “hairbrained”. Es- Jersey border in 1954. To the west, plans to reconstruct, improve, and pecially, since two trans-state high- minimum sight distance of 600 the Turnpike was extended to the expand the Turnpike. ways already existed in the Lincoln feet. Ohio line in 1951. The Northeast The origin of the Pennsylvania highway (U.S. 30) and the William On October 1, 1940, the road Extension opened in 1957, and Turnpike Commission (PTC) goes Penn Highway (U.S. 22). built on the South Penn Railroad took the Turnpike north to back to the glory days of the rail- On May 21, 1937, Act No. 211 alignment was officially opened Scranton. In 1992, the Beaver roads. A new east-west passage was signed into law, authorizing the to traffic at a total cost of $70 mil- Valley Expressway was com- through Pennsylvania called the construction of a 160-mile toll lion. America’s first long-dis- pleted, and in 1993, the Amos K. South Penn Railroad was to be con- highway between Middlesex, tance superhighway was an im- Hutchinson Bypass was com- structed to compete against the for- Cumberland County, and Irwin, mediate success. More than pleted, both in the western part of midable Pennsylvania Railroad. Westmoreland County, both termini 26,000 vehicles were using it the state, bringing the total mile- The alignment was cleared, the rail- linking to existing roads (U.S. 11 daily. That skyrocketed to over age to approximately 500 miles of road bed surveyed, and the boring and the Lincoln highway). It also 2.4 million in twelve month’s toll road. of nine tunnels started. However, created the Turnpike Commission time. This was far more than the The original section of the due to a settlement between the to supervise the project. The law 715 cars per day estimated in a Turnpike contained 307 bridges competing railroad owners, work stipulated, however, that not a cent 1939 study by the Bureau of Pub- and culverts. The current Turnpike on the South Penn Railroad was of State tax money should be spent; lic that also stated toll roads system has over 1300 structures, stopped and the rail line was never it was up to the Commission to would be big money losers (so many of which are original con- completed. One of the design en- handle the financing through the much for studies). struction. We are currently reha- gineers, bitter over ending the sale of bonds. The bonds were to For the first time in the history bilitating or replacing of many of project, wrote “And here, for the be paid off by revenues generated of roads in Pennsylvania a super- these original structures including time being, and probably for a long through tolls. highway existed which provided some of our largest bridges. time to come, is buried the best Ground was broke on October free flow of traffic 160 miles The Susquehanna River route ever devised, or that can be 27, 1938, and in 23 months time, across the State. The Turnpike Bridge, in the middle part of the devised, between the Ohio Valley motor vehicles were traveling the was termed the foundation of a na- state, is the longest span on the and the Atlantic.” The abandoned “Dream Highway”. The original tionwide system of superhighways Turnpike at over 4,500 feet, and railroad bed sat idle for many years. section employed over 1,100 design and sixteen years later the Na- will be replaced in its entirety start- Then, in 1934, two individuals, one engineers and 155 contractors from tional System of Interstate and De- ing next year by dual concrete seg- from the Pennsylvania State Plan- 18 states for a total work force of ning Commission, and the other 20,000. More than 5,000 men worked on seven tunnels at one time, an engineering and construction feat never again known to man. It was an exciting time to be an engineer or constructor involved with the project. The engineers developed and used design criteria and safety standards that were only dreamed about before in this country. Some of the new criteria included a maximum grade of 3 percent and a maximum curvature of 6 degrees. Travelers were provided South Penn Railroad construction, 18?? with super-elevated curves and a The Susquehanna River Bridge 4 IBC 2004 — The Official Publication of the International Bridge Conference® only four remain operational. A duel tube was constructed at each of the remaining four tunnel locations to handle the increased traffic volume. The other three original tunnels were bypassed at some time to reduce operational expen- ditures. The Northeast Extension also has a set of tunnels in Lehigh County, for a total of five active tunnel locations on the current Turnpike system. We are currently Lehigh County Tunnel studying the feasibility of bypass- ing the Allegheny Tunnel and ma- efficient traffic movements at all Lehigh and Pohopoco River Bridges jor rehab is planned for the other interchanges. And an even newer tunnels. “high-speed” E-Z Pass system is mental bridges. These will be the ders and a 10-foot median for a to- Today, the Turnpike continues currently being planned and in- first major concrete segmental tal width of 78 feet. The recon- to expand with its newest sections stalled at certain locations. bridges in Pennsylvania. structed roadway section provides of toll highway in western Penn- All these projects, the large The Allegheny River Bridge is for a future third lane in each di- sylvania. The Mon/Fayette Ex- bridge replacements, the total re- located in western Pennsylvania, rection, full 12-foot shoulders, and pressway will stretch about 65 constructions, the new expansions and is approximately 2,600 feet a wider median for a total width of miles south of Pittsburgh and con- and interchanges, and many others, long. It is currently in preliminary over 110 feet. This requires almost nect to Interstate 68 in West Vir- make it an exciting time again at design for total replacement. all the bridges crossing over the ginia. The Southern Beltway will the Turnpike. We welcome you to The Lehigh and Pohopoco Turnpike to be replaced with longer form an arc about 30 miles long hear more about Turnpike and these River Bridges, two of our larger structures. The majority of the with a radius reaching approxi- projects during our Featured structures on the Northeast Exten- mainline brides are also being re- mately 15 miles out from Agency Session and by stopping by sion of the Turnpike, are in final placed for the wider widths. Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle. the Featured Agency Room. We design and will also be replaced in To date, over 24 miles have been At the eastern end of the state, a hope you enjoy the Conference! their entirety. reconstructed and another 21 miles new connection between the Turn- Many of our other lesser bridges are in construction. Future plans call pike and Interstate 95 is being de- are being replaced as part of our To- for over 16 miles to be reconstructed signed by way of a high-speed in- tal Reconstruction Program. Just every year for the next ten years. terchange. The project will involve like many of our bridges, the Turn- Many things have changed since the widening nine miles of the Turn- pike roadway is nearing the end of Turnpike was originally constructed, pike and the construction of a new its life expectancy, and has to be re- most noticeably the cost. Today, re- bridge crossing the Delaware River. habilitated or replaced. Our Total construction of one mile of Turnpike The project will also incorporate Reconstruction Program calls for roadway is averaging at $10 million the latest in intelligent transporta- completely rebuilding the Turnpike compared to $500,000 per mile tion systems. roadway from the sub-grade up. when the Turnpike was originally Electronic Toll Collection (E-Z The original Turnpike provided for constructed, which included the con- Pass) is another relatively new fea- two 12-foot wide travel lanes in struction of seven tunnels. ture to be implemented throughout each direction with 10-foot shoul- From the original seven tunnels, the Turnpike system providing for E-Z Pass System

Bridge Name? Pennsylvania Turnpike - Interstate 95 interchange Pittsburgh ENGINEER 5 The Overbrook Era: From Freight to Transit

By: John M. Stasko DMJM/Gannett ing done to keep the Overbrook subway system into and around the The Birth of a Railroad Line in operation. In 1988 PAAC city of Pittsburgh. In the late 1970s, Since its inception in the early could no longer continue the costly PAAC knew that upgrades to the 1870s, rail service through the Saw maintenance on their fleet of PCC Overbrook Line would have to be Mill Run Valley was mostly on a cars. Unable to keep up with the included in a new Capital Improve- single-track steam line strung continued deterioration of the PCC ment Program to be called Stage II through a right-of–way that con- cars and the rising costs associated Improvements. Stage II included sisted of forested valleys and steep verged and traveled out in four dif- for this maintenance, PAAC could upgrades to the PAAC Operations hillsides. Most of the rail traffic in ferent directions, and went to the not continue with their scheduled Control Center, new Park and Ride that period consisted of coal freight, ever-growing borough of Castle Sh- runs on the Overbrook Line. As the Lots, improvements to existing sta- but The Pittsburgh and Castle Sh- annon. Leaving the junction, early fleet of PCC cars dwindled and the tions along the Beechview line and annon Railroad (P&CSRR) also oc- passenger trains, known as Presi- tracks and structures continued in most importantly to the residents of casionally transported passengers dential Conference Committee their decline and the steep hillside the Overbrook section, the recon- between fourteen stations along its Trolley (PCC), began their ascent maintenance continued to increase, struction and modernization of the route. Although called The Pitts- to a single track aligned along hill- all service on the Overbrook Line 5.5 mile Overbrook Line. With burgh and Castle Shannon Rail- side trackbeds and wound its way was suspended on June 6, 1993 and funding in place and the prelimi- road, passengers were brought to through narrow forested hillsides replaced by bus service between nary engineering completed, PAAC Warrington Avenue where they had and valleys and across an old fash- Castle Shannon and Pittsburgh. held numerous community meet- to take two incline trips to get up ioned wooden trestle bridge. While PAAC was funding numer- ings during the end of the 1990s. and over Mt. Washington and ar- For many ous other projects going on includ- The rebirth of the Overbrook Line rived at Carson Street where they passengers that ing Stage I and the Mt. Washing- was a dream about to begin. In all diverted to their separate ways. traveled this ton Transit Tunnel they could not 1997, the first evidence of activity With increasing passenger traf- route in the fund a complete upgrade on the on this once proud line saw the re- fic in the early 1900s, the single- rounded, old Overbrook Line and soon the ro- moval of existing bridges along the track steam line went through elec- fashioned, PCC mance with the Overbrook Line Overbrook Line. The removal of the trification and the addition of a trolleys, a ro- was gone. Oak Avenue Viaduct over Route 51 second track over a significant part mance for rail Prior to service ending on the and the wooden trestle structure of the route. P&CSRR was then travel quickly Overbrook Line, plans were already over Bausman Street quickly restricted to hauling coal at night, developed for underway for a complete overhaul changed the landscape of Saw Mill so that the newly reconfigured line the railway pur- of this scenic route into the city of Run Boulevard. It appeared to could serve the increasing popula- ist. Once across the single track and Pittsburgh. PAAC’s Stage I Im- many that the absence of these two tion growth. A short connection the wooden trestle bridge over Saw provements comprised of upgrades prominent structures signaled the from Overbrook to Brookline was Mill Run Boulevard, the line re- to the Beechview Line and a new end of the Overbrook Line. Their added in the early 1900s. This cor- turned to double tracks, which removal truly signified ridor quickly became known as the quickly transported passengers into that this was only the start Overbrook Line. In 1964, Port Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon. of dream to come true for Authority of Allegheny County many of the residents of (PAAC) began using this line as The Beginning the Overbook area. part of its ever-expanding transit of the End line in order to better serve the sur- PAAC began introducing newer A New Era Begins rounding communities. Light Rail Vehicles known as LRVs In April 2000, the The Overbrook Line started at to their transit operations in the single track alignment and South Hills Junction, where at one 1980s. These newer LRVs were forested hillsides and deep time, eight different lines con- heavier and also articulated and valleys that previously could not travel on the ever-aging saw coal freight cars, pas- Overbrook Line. PAAC transferred senger cars and finally the LRVs to the recently improved only occasional birds and and rebuilt Mt. Lebanon- deer along its once busy Beechview Line. The resulting ef- tracks came to life again. fect was that the existing PCC cars Now there were the continued to age and deteriorate sounds of voices talking while some remedial work was be- of alignments, new struc- 6 IBC 2004 — The Official Publication of the International Bridge Conference® transports them into the suburban raised platforms and improvements small town city landscape of Castle to a park and ride all while in the Shannon. Included in this section urban area of Castle Shannon. are five at grade crossings and the What started out as a coal trans- reconstruction of the Oak Avenue portation route and developed into Viaduct. The viaduct was recon- a route that could provide quick and structed to current standards in al- easy transportation into the growing tures and looking towards the fu- most the exact same location as its Edgebrook, Carrick and Mt. Oliver Pittsburgh region has developed into ture all while remembering her past predecessor. The rebirth of the sections of the City of Pittsburgh. a new more convenient, efficient and 150 years of history. The new line Overbrook Line was underway. Section 2 includes the reconstruc- quicker way into and out of Pitts- will include new inbound and out- September 2001 saw ground- tion of two new structures includ- burgh. From early planning stages bound tracks, construction of eight breaking for the second section ing the 90-foot tall structure over in the 1970s to ground breaking in major structures, eight raised plat- known as Denise to Glenbury. This Bausman Street, known as early 2000 to the first passengers to form stations, a new power distri- quiet and serene section winds its McKinley Park Bridge, replacing board an Overbrook Car, the bution system and thousands of feet way through the forested hillsides the old wooden trestle bridge that Overbrook Line has come full circle. of rock anchored and mechanically and valleys of McKinley Park lo- stood there proudly for 130 years. When the first customer boards stabilized earth walls. cated in the City of Pittsburgh. The By April 2002, the third section, the new LRVs that are to call the February 2001 saw the first scenic route has an alignment that known as Glenbury to Castle Sh- Overbrook Line their route, the ro- shovels driven into the ground for follows the same route as the pre- annon, was underway. This section mance for the railway purists will the first of three sections to be re- vious and includes three new raised wound its way through Castle Sh- be alive once more. From its constructed. The first section to be platform stations, each serving annon and finally tied back into humble beginnings in 1870 when started was Glenbury to Willow. PAAC’s Stage I Line. This section it first transported coal and the first This section can be thought of as was the final section of the original fourteen stop trip, the Overbrook the section that brings you from for- Overbrook Line and completed the Line will offer to its patrons a new ested hillsides of Overbrook to the route for passengers from Down- more convenient, efficient and city life of Castle Shannon. Start- town Pittsburgh and into Castle quicker way into and out of Down- ing with the new Oak Avenue Via- Shannon. This section’s highlights town Pittsburgh all the while re- duct, the line takes passengers from are four at grade crossings, three newing its romance for a peaceful the outlying areas of Pittsburgh and new overhead structures, four new and everlasting trip to the past.

Pittsburgh ENGINEER 7 western Maryland, southwestern The Bridges of the National Road — Pennsylvania, the panhandle of West Virginia, and into the farm- Our Nation’s First Toll Road lands of Ohio. Along the way we will visit many unique and individual structures.

The Early Bridges of the National Road Casselman (or “Little Yough- iogheny”) River Bridge. The Na- tional Road quickly rose from the lowlands of Cumberland, Maryland and ascended Savage Mountain, Maryland, crossed the Allegheny Mountain divide and faced it’s first formidable river crossing, then known as the “Little Yough- iogheny”. The resulting 80-foot stone arch bridge, erected in 1813, A leisurely day trip along U.S. 40 through the moun- was the largest stone arch in tains of western Maryland, the ridges and river valleys of America at the time of construction Pennsylvania and West Virginia, or the farmlands of Ohio and was continuously used from will bring a twenty-first century traveler in close contact 1813 to 1933. The large span and with the last visible vestiges of our nation’s first national high profile anticipated the C&O toll roadway. These vestiges — the mile marker monuments, Canal through the mountains and the bridges, the tollhouses, and the hotels — are a reminder along the river. This beautiful el- of the spirit of travel of our forefathers and remain an ar- liptical arch, now located in a state cheological record of the technologies of the day. park, is a Registered National His- Casselman River Bridge toric Landmark. By: Thomas G. Leech, P.E., S.E. Somerfield (or “Great Cross- and Amanda L. Skocik ings”) Bridge. One large river Gannett Fleming, Inc. valley penetrates the heart of the Allegheny Mountain range How It All Began … Indian paths such as the Mingo ably, many of the bridges built in in southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1818, the National Road, or Path and the old Braddock Trail the 1818-1840 era still remain — Braddock’s Trail forded this river then known as the Cumberland used by General Braddock and his several in very close proximity to at its shallowest point and the Na- Road, was opened to foot and young assistant, George Washing- present day Route 40. Tollhouses, tional Road constructed a hand- stagecoach traffic. This was the ton, during the pursuit of the grand hotels and mileage markers some 40-foot high, 375-foot long first important road built in the French at Fort Duquesne, located have been restored along the corri- three-span stone arch at this “Great country using federal funds. Its in present day Pittsburgh, during dor. As we consider the present day Crossing” of the Youghiogheny location, originally winding the French and Indian Wars of the complexities of commerce and uti- River. In 1940, the river valley was through the Allegheny Mountains 1760’s. In the 1820’s, the toll road lization of our modern toll roads, it flooded for flood control and rec- from the Chesapeake River in was extended to Illinois. The fed- is interesting to reflect back to the reational purposes and remnants of Cumberland, Maryland to the eral government turned the road technology of almost 200 years ago this once marvelous stone bridge Ohio River at Wheeling, (then) over to the individual states in the at our nation’s infancy and consider and the ruins of the village of Virginia, was selected by 1830’s due to its costly the challenges and solutions facing Somerfield are visible only in sea- a group of Commissioners maintenance. The states the design and construction of sons of severe drought. On the under the direction of decided to collect fees, or bridges along this original National eastern end one can see the inscrip- Thomas Jefferson. Its lo- tolls, from travelers to de- Toll Road. tion “Kinkead, Beck & Evans, cation was carefully se- fray the cost, hence, Our journey follows the origi- builders, July 4th, 1818”. lected utilizing natural to- America’s first toll road nal course of the Na- pography to best form a was born. tional Road from the route through the arduous Present day Route 40 terminus of the C&O mountain terrain. A sig- follows, and in many lo- Canal in Cumberland nificant portion of the cations, lies on the same and winds westward road’s alignment carefully alignment as the original through the mountains followed Native American Mile Marker National Road. Remark- and hill country of Somerfield Bridge

8 IBC 2004 — The Official Publication of the International Bridge Conference® Patrick Connors The Brown Collection of Photographs The Brown Collection, Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV Zane’s Crossing. Zane’s Island Dunlap’s Creek Bridge. After heard for miles, and spectators Wheeling Suspension Bridge. was a strategic location for cross- penetrating the mountain barrier, along the bank were soaked by the Originally the National Road ing the Ohio River. This large is- the National Road made a beeline mighty splash! ended near the mouth of Wheel- land made a natural crossing point for the Monongahela River commu- “S-Bridge”. As the toll road ing Creek along the Ohio River, for early settlers seeking a path to nity of Brownsville, at that time the followed the winding ridges and the destination for travelers con- the west. From 1830, the Zane fam- largest city of western Pennsylva- valleys to the Ohio River, many tinuing by water to the interior of ily maintained a ferry service across nia. The Dunlap’s Creek Bridge, small tributaries were crossed. As the country. The city of Wheel- the main channel (which ended within the city of Brownsville, was typical of the era, the streams were ing was quickly extended across when the Wheeling Suspension a scene of particularly unfortunate crossed in their shortest direction, the main channel of the Ohio Bridge was completed). Across the bridge accidents; until 1839, sev- regardless of the general path or River to Zane’s Island (now back channel of the Ohio River at eral bridges crossed this small 80- direction of the roadway. An en- known as Wheeling Island) by a Zane’s Island, the Zane family con- foot gorge including a chain sus- tire series of stone “S-bridges” were 1010-foot long suspension structed a wooden, covered toll pension bridge, which collapsed built along small tributaries such bridge, but it was not an easy task. bridge in 1836. The toll keeper under the weight of snow. In 1839, the “S-bridge” located 5 miles west The Commonwealth of Pennsyl- lived on the bridge at the Ohio end. the use of an arched iron bridge was of Washington, Pennsylvania over vania led by Edwin M. Stanton conceived by Capt. Richard Buffalo Creek. For this two-span (later to become Abraham Delafield due to the close arch bridge, the main span was Lincoln’s Secretary of War) filed proximities of the Brownsville aligned at right angles to the stream; a suit in the U.S. Supreme Court Foundries. “The Neck” (nickname the minor span and approaches to prevent construction because of downtown Brownsville due to were aligned in the east to west di- the bridge would obstruct river high traffic congestion) was crossed rection of the roadway, confronting traffic. The designer, Charles with America’s first iron bridge, the likely weary traveler with a con- Ellet, Jr., the father of suspension Ohio and Beyond. As the Na- which remains in vehicular use to torted “S” pathway. bridges, pressed forward with the tional Road extended from the hilly this day and is designated as a Na- Elm Grove Stone Bridge. As design and construction of this provinces of western Ohio to the tional Historic Civil Engineering the National Road entered wrought iron structure and man- gently sloping farm country of east- Landmark. present-day West Virginia, it fol- aged to complete and open the ern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, many Monongahela River Crossing. lowed the tributary system of bridge in 1850. Stanton, upset vestiges of the National Road era re- The Monongahela River was a la- Wheeling Creek and crossed this about the bridge, drove the main intact. These bridges lie al- borious river crossing in the early branch of the Ohio River with a steamer “Hibernia No. Two” into most immediately adjacent to US 40 days of the National Road; by it to prove the bridge was a hin- and are easily visible to all travel- drance. The court ordered Ellet ers. These bridges include the three- to substantially raise his bridge, span stone arch in Blaine, Ohio (pic- but he succeeded to have the tured above) and the “S-bridges” in bridge declared a post road, which Cambridge and New Concord, Ohio. has seniority over all transportation arteries. Tragically, after this The Brown Collection, Ohio County Public Conclusion Jay W. Mohney Library, Wheeling, WV fight, the suspension bridge col- Today, U.S. 40 extends from At- lapsed when a severe gale induced lantic City to San Francisco. In 1830, the ferry was replaced with a series of unusual stone elliptical undulatory motion in the super- 2002, our first tollroad earned the three-span wooden covered bridge. arches for its time of construction. structure on May 17, 1854. This status of National Scenic All- This remarkable structure with ap- Built in 1818 by Moses Shepherd, increasing twisting motion, American Byway, one of the high- proximately 200-foot wooden arch it is also known as the Monument caused by aerolastic instability, est honors bestowed on a traveled spans was the first bridge across a Place Bridge due to the memorial directly led to collapse of the su- route. With its spectacular scenery, major river west of the Appalachian nearby dedicated to Henry Clay perstructure in a violent and sud- breathtaking bridges, and historic Mountains. In 1910, the bridge was by Shepherd for his support of the den state. The superstructure was charm, the National Road possesses declared an obstruction to river traf- National Road. The bridge re- promptly reconstructed in 1860, the unique ability to transport fic and was pulled down by a cable mains intact to this date; however, and in 1872 further strengthened present-day society back into time, wrapped around its timbers con- the beautiful stonework has been with stayed cables by John A. relive the birth our transportation nected to a moving steamboat. The covered by a rather sterile con- Roebling and Sons. The structure industry, and appreciate the mile- sound of the cracking wood was crete facing. remains in service to this day. stones encountered along the way.

Pittsburgh ENGINEER 9 IBC Bridge Awards

2004 R ESWP in association with Roads and Bridges Magazine, Bayer Corporation, Bridge design & engineering Magazine and the International Bridge Conference®, will host the Sixteenth Annual International Bridge Conference® Bridge Awards at the Pittsburgh Hilton on Monday, June 14. The following honorees will be recognized: Photograph courtesy of Ian Masterton John A. Roebling Medal Eugene C. Figg Jr. Medal William Brown Lupu Bridge, China Brown Beech & Associates Ltd. The world’s largest arch bridge was chosen by the city of A lifetime commitment to bridge engineering Shanghai because they wanted a design that was different; a and a recognized world expert on long span sus- landmark bridge and a structure that would act as a symbol pension bridges. for the city.

George S. Richardson Medal Al ZampaMemorialBridge (New Carquinez Bridge), California The first suspension bridge to be built in the USA in almost 3 decades, the New Carquinez Bridge incorpo- rates the latest advancements in seismic analysis and design criteria balanced with an aesthetic and graceful appearance that is in perfect harmony with the surrounding environment and communities.

10 IBC 2004 — The Official Publication of the International Bridge Conference® Sponsored by

Aurthur G. Hayden Medal Esplanade Riel Pedestrian Bridge, Canada Winnipeg’s exciting new foot bride creates a dra- matic addition to the city’s skyline. The concept for the bridge was the result of an unprecedented level of public consultation for a public works project.

Gustav Lindenthal Medal Mingo Creek Viaduct, Pennsylvania The Mingo Creek Bridge’s rustic setting required a harmonious balance with the surrounding hillsides. The rise-to-span and height to thickness ratio of the piers created a perfect proportion to its environment. The passing drivers are presented with pan- oramic views.

Pittsburgh ENGINEER 11 The Keystone Shortway — Providing Mobility and Economic Opportunity to the Nation

By Chad E. Knavel, PE, Structural Task Leader, DMJM+HARRIS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA and Steven D. Pfeifer, PE, Project Manager, DMJM+HARRIS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA and Lisle E. Williams, PE, PLS, Director, Infrastructure Project Development, DMJM+HARRIS, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

Overview Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, but also to destinations in the commonly known as the Keystone Northeast and west to Chicago and Shortway, is one of the most heavily beyond. traveled interstate highways in the In the Keystone State, there are Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 55 interchanges connecting Inter- and is often referred to as the “Gate- state 80 to numerous North/South way to the West”. This 313-mile Interstates (I-79, I-99, I-81, I-380), divided highway, with two travel State Routes, the Northeast Exten- lanes in each direction, is one of sion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-80 over Allegheny River looking North most important thoroughfares for (I-476), and other important arteri- the transport of people and goods als and collectors. Significant com- in the entire country. This vital ponents of the Keystone Shortway Geological habilitations. The rehabilitated East-West connector was con- are its 486 bridges totaling nearly Considerations bridges were required to meet cur- structed in only 12 years, after more 85,000 linear feet. Several of these The 313 miles of Interstate 80 rent PENNDOT Design Manual, than 30 years of detailed planning, structures are among the highest pass through various types of geo- Part 2, roadway criteria for lane and design and coordination. and longest in the state. At the time logical formations. From the shoulder width, and must provide Daily traffic varies from 22,000 of its construction, the Allegheny gorge cut by the Delaware River a single 18-foot wide traffic lane (in to 66,000 vehicles on Interstate 80. River Crossing (Emlenton Bridge), on the eastern terminus, to the each direction) during staged recon- Most who have traveled this high- 270 feet above water, was the high- glacial deposits of the Appala- struction of the bridges. These cri- way will attest that a large percent- est bridge in the state and spans chian Plateau on the west, the to- teria negate the need for the time- age of this total traffic volume is nearly 1670 feet. In addition to the pography encountered along In- consuming detour of oversize trucks. Commercial truck traffic ac- statistical fame of the Keystone terstate 80 tells a history of vehicles normally required during counts for 18 to 44 percent of the Shortway’s bridges, several have geologic activity millions of years bridge rehabilitation or deck re- traffic volume, evidence of the won national awards for their de- in the making. Sand, gravel, placement. Eliminating detours importance of Interstate 80 as a vi- sign components and aesthetic pebbles, cobbles of glacial till, also eases the burden placed on lo- tal link for the movement of goods treatments that complement the sur- boulder fields, tilted and folded cal municipalities and state roads and services, not only within the rounding environment. beds of sandstones, limestone, used as detour routes. Widening shale, quartzite, conglomerates options were evaluated with respect and coal — any and all of these to geometry, construction methods, materials may be encountered and safety criteria established in co- along the line and grade of this ordination with the Department. Of interstate highway. the 44 bridges investigated and evaluated in the three counties, it 44 Bridge Studies was determined that 40 bridges re- Evaluated for Widening quired widening in order to satisfy Pennsylvania Department of the Department’s criteria. Transportation Engineering District The 44 bridges were divided 10-0 commissioned DMJM+ into two broad categories by HARRIS to perform conceptual- DMJM+HARRIS: single structures level bridge widening studies to de- carrying four lanes of I-80 in both termine if oversize vehicles could directions, generally over major riv- be accommodated on 44 bridges ers such as the Clarion and Allegh- carrying I-80 in Butler, Clarion and eny; and dual structures carrying I-80 over Allegheny River looking South Jefferson Counties during future re- the eastbound and westbound lanes

12 IBC 2004 — The Official Publication of the International Bridge Conference® on separate, parallel structures. The ing and constructibility were evalu- bridges studied included single and ated, including site access, contrac- multiple spans in various configu- tor staging and material laydown ar- rations of steel and prestressed con- eas, material availability and crete structure types. transportation requirements. Cul- tural, environmental, and right-of- Constructibility and way issues were identified and ad- Design Issues dressed; and, where applicable, The study included several ma- administrative issues regarding rail- jor long span bridges: three (3) roads, permits, and coordination single-structure steel deck-truss with the Public Utility Commission bridges; two (2) dual-structure steel were also considered. multi-girder bridges; and four (4) dual-structure steel girder- Beyond the Keystone floorbeam-stringer system bridges. Shortway I-80 east-bound over Canoe Creek looking East A multitude of constructibility This project is an important first and design issues were considered step toward improving I-80, but development of new facilities has bridge failures, storms, landslides in development of the widening attention must be focused beyond not kept pace with demands to re- and other emergencies frequently feasibility studies. Geometric and the 44 bridges of this study – there duce traffic congestion, provide result in users’ “road rage” geographic constraints such as hori- are 486 bridges on I-80 alone access, and improve mobility for • As a nation we have been under- zontal and vertical clearances, site within Pennsylvania’s borders. We the motoring public. investing in transportation infra- distances, median-versus-outside must have the commitment of all The following facts and figures structure for decades shoulder widening, and the pres- stakeholders in order to provide a illustrate the need for dedicated The No. 1 transportation prob- ence of interchange ramps could transportation network that signifi- funding to enhance our infrastruc- lem in the country is congestion impact the proposed widening. cantly improves our nation’s com- ture system in Pennsylvania and — 82% of all goods are moved by Through numerous site reconnais- petitiveness in the world economy. other parts of the country. trucks. Manufacturers are adopt- sance field trips, the varying geo- Most bridge engineers are • The existing transportation net- ing just-in-time delivery as a way logical conditions were noted. De- keenly aware of the relationship work is fragile and minor mis- of doing business. To illustrate the sign issues such as time-dependent between a well-planned, well-de- haps result in gridlock magnitude of the funding problem, behavior, differences in material signed and well-built transportation • Urban area infrastructure is oper- there are 2,114 bridges in Allegh- strengths, fatigue performance, and infrastructure system and the eco- ating at or near capacity in many eny County — more than in structural capacity were also key el- nomic growth and prosperity of our communities Venice, Italy. ements of the widening investiga- nation. In spite of the sincere and • Level-of-service demands ex- • 1,154 owned by PENNDOT tions. Various methods of super- dedicated efforts of many transpor- ceed capacity of the existing • 512 owned by Allegheny County structure and substructure widening tation agencies, the condition of our transportation system • 85 owned by City of Pittsburgh were considered as part of the study roads, bridges and transit systems • Roadway closings due to recon- • 66 owned by PA Turnpike Com- for each bridge. Construction phas- is, in many cases, deplorable, and struction, delays, accidents, mission • 80 owned by Port Authority of Allegheny County • 107 locally owned • 80 railroad-owned • 30 privately owned We can address these problems in two ways: Provide a multi- modal transportation system that is seamless between modes of transportation; and secure additional revenues to address shortfall of available transportation funding As engineers and bridge industry professionals, we need to stress the need for dedicated funding, not only to fellow bridge engineers, but to elected officials and others with influence to secure such funding. Action taken today will ensure a better tomorrow for us, and for fu- I-80 west-bound over SR 0338 looking West ture generations.

Pittsburgh ENGINEER 13