PROJECTS

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

CLIENT Washington State Department of Transportation

Location Tacoma, WA

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge project constructed a new 5,400-foot long suspension bridge—a parallel twin to the existing suspension bridge—all within an aggressive 55-month schedule.

The first parallel suspension bridge built in such close proximity to an existing span, this design-build project also presented complex issues with stratigraphy, diverse topography, fault-zones, landslide-prone slopes, contaminated soils and endangered species. Shannon & Wilson provided geotechnical and earthquake engineering studies for preliminary and final design of the bridge and approach structures.

Shannon & Wilson performed subsurface explorations, including drilling marine borings in water deeper than 150 feet, extending to approximately 200 feet below mudline.  We used this information develop foundation recommendations for the bridge's two support towers.  Tower foundation alternatives included large-diameter driven piles, drilled shafts, and sunken caisson foundations. Shannon & Wilson developed preliminary recommendations for all three foundation types, and delivered detailed recommendations for the sunken caisson alternative-the foundation type ultimately selected.  Our studies included 2-D and 3-D finite-difference studies to evaluate lateral pressures on the caisson walls under seismic-loading conditions.  In addition, we used the finite-difference studies to evaluate the sinking of the caisson.

The new bridge anchorages required 12- to 75-foot-deep excavations located along the steep, marginally stable hillsides adjacent to the Tacoma Narrows.  We evaluated hillside stability and provided recommendations for design of the anchorages as well as the excavation support system.  We performed soil-structure interaction analyses using 2-D and 3-D finite studies to model the resistance and movement of the anchorages under static and seismic loading conditions.

KEY PERSONNEL

Monique Anderson
Vice President

Gerard Buechel
Senior Vice President

Hollie Ellis
Treasurer/Secretary

Ted Hopkins
Vice President

Wendy Mathieson
Vice President

Bob Mitchell
Board of Directors - Chair

Bill Perkins
Vice President, Earthquake Engineering Services

Hisham Sarieddine
Vice President

Katie Walter
Vice President

Paul Van Horne
Associate

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