UDOT Completes Move of 354-ft. Two-span Bridge in One Night

UDOT makes history with the successful move of the Sam White Bridge over Interstate 15 in just one night.

April 13, 2011

The self-propelled modular transporters - hydraulic jacks on wheels, controlled by a single joystick - were used to lift the 354-foot, 3.8 million-pound structure 21 feet in the air.

On March 26th, UDOT's Utah County I-15 Corridor Expansion (I-15 CORE) and contractor, Provo River Constructors (PRC), made history with the successful move of the Sam White Bridge over Interstate 15 in American Fork, UT, in just one night. It is the longest two-span bridge ever moved by self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) in the Western Hemisphere. Crews set the bridge into place at approximately 4 a.m. Sunday and reopened the freeway at 7 a.m., three hours ahead of schedule.

"The Sam White Bridge move demonstrates our commitment to employing the latest technology to minimize delays to the traveling public and delivering our projects as fast as possible," said John Njord, executive director of UDOT.

Approximately 1,000 members of the public witnessed the move. In addition, state elected officials, more than 100 delegates from other Departments of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and transportation industry professionals from as far away as China watched as two sets of SPMTs – hydraulic jacks on wheels, controlled by a single joystick – were used to lift the 354-foot, 3.8 million-pound structure 21 feet in the air. The bridge was then moved from the "bridge farm" where it was constructed on the east side of I-15 across eight freeway lanes (approximately 500 feet) and lowered into place.

"Building the bridge using Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) eliminated the need for as many as 10 full freeway closures," Dal Hawks, I-15 CORE project director, said. "This reduced traffic delays and benefited the state's economy by keeping people, goods and services moving while the bridge was being constructed."

Constructing the bridge using this technology helps meet the project's aggressive three-year timeline. The bridge is one of 59 bridges that will be new, rebuilt or modified on UDOT's $1.725 billion I-15 CORE project by December 2012.

The Sam White Bridge is UDOT's 23rd ABC bridge move – nearly double the number moved by all other states combined. The FHWA designated UDOT's move as a "Showcase" event for leaders to learn how more about ABC technology and how it can be applied to other transportation systems in the country.

About I-15 CORE and the Sam White Bridge

The Sam White Bridge, located 30 miles south of Salt Lake City, is one of 59 new, modified or rebuilt structures on the $1.725 billion, 24-mile interstate reconstruction project. The state-funded project will reconstruct 24 miles from Lehi to Spanish Fork to meet transportation demands through the year 2030. This area of I-15 connects the northern and southern halves of the state as well as through travel from surrounding states.

One of the largest road construction projects in the country, the project will:

Add two lanes in both directions from Lehi Main Street to Spanish Fork Main Street
Extend the express lane (HOV) in both directions from University Parkway in Orem to Spanish Fork
Rebuild and reconfigure 10 freeway interchanges and build, modify or replace 63 aging bridges
Use a 40-year concrete pavement design along the entire corridor

The design-build project is being constructed by Provo River Constructors (PRC), a consortium of 30+ companies led by Fluor Corporation, Ames Construction Company, Wadsworth Brothers Construction Company and Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company. The contract, issued through an innovative fixed-price, best-design procurement process, was awarded in December 2009. Construction began in April 2010.

Currently, design is nearly 100 percent complete and construction just under 30 percent done and the project is on schedule for the December 2012 finish deadline. For more information on UDOT's largest project in state history, visit udot.utah.gov/i15core.

Sam White Bridge Move Facts

Sam White Bridge over I-15 will be the 23rd Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) move by self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT) in Utah and the longest two-span bridge ever moved in the Western Hemisphere.
UDOT is a leader in employing ABC innovation, with only seven other states having employed ABC using SPMTs. Of the 36 SPMT moves performed nationwide, 23 have taken place in Utah.
It is the third of six ABC bridges to be moved by SPMT on I-15 CORE.
While in transition, the bridge will be hoisted 21 feet in the air to set into place.
Length is 354 feet and width is 80 ft. Each span is 177 feet long and will be moved simultaneously with two sets of SPMTs.
Superstructure weight is 3.82 million pounds. Total bridge area is 27,500 square feet and consists of 1,134 cubic yards, or 2.27 million pounds, of concrete – 970 yards, or 940,000 pounds, of concrete on the deck; 300,000-pound concrete parapets (safety barriers) and 1.53-million pound concrete slabs.
The bridge contains 1.47 million pounds of steel and 275,350 pounds of rebar.
It took 12,700 hours to construct and move the bridge.
It is a complete reconstruct of the former Sam White Bridge located over I-15 in American Fork, Utah, 30 miles south of Salt Lake City.
Six additional full nighttime freeway closures would have been necessary to rebuild the bridge using traditional methods.