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05.14.04 - Wilson
Bridge reaches milestone
Roads &Bridges Magazine
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has achieved
a major milestone on the Woodrow Wilson
Bridge Project with the completion of its first major
landside contract. Strengthening the ground between Telegraph
Road and U.S. Rte. 1, essential to supporting the wider
future Capital Beltway, was completed in late April--on
schedule and under budget. The $35 million Ground Improvement
Contract, completed by Shirley Contracting Corp., was
a necessary part of Virginia's $1 billion portion of the
Wilson Bridge Project due to weak soil that exists where
Virginia's new Capital Beltway, ramps and bridges will
be built. Completion of this time-sensitive work is critical
to the schedule and success of the overall project, as
it ensures the soil's readiness for new construction by
literally laying the groundwork for multiple construction
activities in Virginia to occur.
"The Ground Improvement Contract was a necessary first
step on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, as soil that
would support the future Beltway was too weak and unstable,"
said Ronaldo "Nick" Nicholson, P.E., Woodrow Wilson Bridge
Project Manager for VDOT. "By strengthening the soil through
the use of a variety of innovative geotechnical engineering
techniques, we are able to ensure the future roadway will
have the necessary foundations in place. The completion
of this effort exemplifies VDOT's commitment to the on-time
delivery of this important transportation facility."
Virginia's ground improvement work started in late 2001
and showed steady progress each week. To ensure the contract's
success, two separate engineering techniques were used,
with the primary goal of strengthening the underlying
weak soil by accelerating settlements of existing soil,
rather than removing and replacing soil. One technique
used involved inserting "PV or Wick Drains" up to 40 ft
deep into the ground. The other method, called "Deep Soil
Mixing" involved strengthening soil by mixing cement with
existing soil.
Source: Wilson Bridge Project May 14, 2004
News this week sponsored by: Lunar Lights, Inc.
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