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Schuylkill River Bridge & Diamond Run Viaduct |
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Location: Pennsylvania Turnpike over the Schuylkill River, Montgomery County, PA Client: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Description:
This highway widening project currently under construction is along the PA Turnpike (I-276) between Norristown (Exit 25) and Valley Forge (Exit 24). Three new bridges and a total of 7,700 ft of roadway are involved in a construction contract worth $35 million. The Schuylkill River Bridge has 6 spans and is 1,224 ft long, while the other two bridges are a 2-span (150 ft) and a simple-span (80 ft). The two smaller bridges and a new 40-ft high embankment will replace the existing 625-ft long Diamond Run Viaduct. Major geotechnical challenges on this job were caused by solution openings in the underlying carbonate rock, steep sloping rock surfaces, soft clays under the proposed high embankment. VFL has provided geotechnical services during pre-final design, final design, and through construction in the categories identified earlier in this section, including the following specific items. Design (Prefinal and Final) - Reconnaissance soils and geological engineering report
- Prep. and admin. of subsurface boring, sampling, and testing contract
- supervision of borings
- Geotechnical laboratory testing of soil and rock samples
- Plotted logs and soil profile plans
- Roadway geotechnical engineering report, incl. pavement design recommendations
- Environmental assessment of lead contamination detected in soil borings
- Sound barrier design
Construction - Inspection of caissons, pile predrilling, test piles and dynamic testing
- Inspection of exploratory drilling and compaction grouting
- Inspection of spread footing bearing levels and probe holes
- Inspection of settlement plates and piezometers
- Project management/meetings
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