US 190 Mississippi River Bridge Rehabilitation, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA

TRC was responsible for preliminary engineering and final design associated with the structural rehabilitation, cleaning, and painting of this major railroad/highway bridge across the Mississippi River. The bridge consists of 8,884 feet of railroad approach spans; 2,552 feet of highway approach spans; and 3,326 feet of cantilever steel truss main spans.

Rehabilitation / replacement work included:

• Cross frame chord members and connection angles
• Top lateral bracing members
• Main truss vertical and diagonal lacing bars
• Deteriorated interior stiffeners of main truss verticals
• Deteriorated diagonals at portals
• Anchor bolt and column rehabilitation for approach bents
• Bearing pins and corroded bearings
• False chord expansion devices
• Cracked gusset plates
• Patching of concrete spalls at bearings and retaining walls
• Removal of existing lead-based paint and the application of a new coating system

Schemes for jacking and temporary support of members during rehabilitation and structural analysis for traffic reduction during phases of construction were included, as was traffic control and phasing for maintenance of traffic. As the structure carries rail as well as vehicular traffic, TRC assisted the DOTD in coordinating all work with the Union Pacific and Kansas Southern Railroads.

In addition to the above work, special bridge inspections were required for Phases 1 (highway approaches and truss spans) and 2 (railroad approaches). TRC performed these inspections using in-house NBIS inspectors, provided and operated all access equipment, and coordinated and provided all traffic control operations with DOTD, parishes, and state police.