I-10 Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development selected the consultant team of FIGG Bridge Engineers, Burk-Kleinpeter, Inc., and SITE-Blauvelt to develop a segmental concrete box girder alternative to the LADOTD AASHTO girder alternative for replacement of the I-10 bridges over Lake Pontchartrain. This was a fast track project to replace the existing bridges which suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. The first construction package for four miles of level bridge structure was ready for bidding in just over four months. The navigation channel portion of approximately one mile of bridge structure followed four months later. BKI's responsibilities included designing and detailing of the substructure for the segmental concrete box girder bridge and the electrical design and details for both the DOTD girder alternative and the consultant segmental alternative. BKI modeled the bridge piers using FB-Pier and designed them in accordance with the AASHTO Load Resistance Factor Design Bridge Design Specifications. In addition to the normal AASHTO loadings, the piers were designed to resist hurricane wave action and vessel impact loads. BKI also performed an independent detailing check of the DOTD girder alternative. BKI's electrical design on the DOTD alternatively provided power for the ITS system, motorized corssover barrieres and navigation lighting along with provisions for future roadway lighting including embedded raceways in the bridge deck. Electrical design for the consultant alternative provided power for the ITS system, motorized crossover barriers and navigation lighting, maintenance lighting and power inside the box girders and provisions for future roadway lighting including block outs and embedded raceways in the box sections.