Colorado bridge beam replacement

Beam replacement was the only option

Further structural analysis led the engineer to conclude that the structural element could not be repaired and that replacement was the only option. But it was not possible to purchase an identical replacement as the product was no longer available, so Freyssinet Chile had to propose a new design prepared by the precast beam company, which had to be approved by the engineer and highway authorities before it could be manufactured.

The 27 m-long, 1.2 m-high precast, prestressed beam that was damaged was one of four that make up the west span of the two-span bridge. In order to replace it, part of the deck slab on that span also had to be demolished to allow the reinforcement to be cut, to free the beam from the remaining deck slab. The bridge is 55 m long in total, with a 12.6 m-wide superstructure formed of a 180 mm-thick deck slab.