Lawson-Fisher Associates

Bridges and Structures

U.S. 24 over Viland Ditch
Allen County, Indiana

Construction of a new alignment for U.S. 24 between the Indiana-Ohio state line and Fort Wayne, Indiana has been a high profile project within the State. As one of the leaders within this project, Lawson-Fisher Associates designed and prepared construction documents for twin single-span bridges that carry U.S. 24 over Viland Ditch. The U.S. 24 alignment is on a horizontal curve at the bridge location. To simplify construction, the bridge width was chosen such that the bridges could be constructed tangent to the horizontal curve. The prestressed concrete bulb-tee beams are 5’-6” tall and were selected for their ability to span the crossing of more than one hundred feet without the need for an interior support. Integral end bents were utilized on this project to eliminate bridge deck joints. The end bents are supported on 12” steel H-piles driven to bedrock. Due to the high volume of truck traffic on U.S. 24, concrete barrier rail with a 3’-9” height was constructed on both bridges.

Plymouth-Goshen Trail over U.S. 31
Marshall County, Indiana

In 2008, Lawson-Fisher Associates performed the design and prepared construction documents for a new 2-span bridge over U.S. 31. The new bridge will satisfy an important objective of the State’s corridor improvements for U.S. 31 by replacing an at-grade intersection. The steel plate girders have 62” web plates and will span 124’-6”. At the request the Marshall County officials, the steel plate girders will be painted to match other steel beam bridges within the county. The interior support for the bridge is a concrete wall pier. Mechanically Stabilized Earth abutments provide aesthetic value to the site while adding to the cost-effectiveness of the project. Due to the large skew of the bridge relative to U.S. 31, conventional end bents will be constructed. The steel plate girders are supported on elastomeric bearing pads at the end bents and on a steel shoe at the interior support. The bridge substructures will be supported on steel H-piles.

State Road 101 over U.S. 24
Allen County, Indiana

This bridge is at the western end of the U.S. 24 Fort to Port, Phase 4 project. The bridge is part of the new interchange at State Road 101 and U.S. 24. In collaboration with INDOT officials, Lawson-Fisher Associates designed and prepared construction documents for this 2-span bulb-tee superstructure over the new U.S. 24 divided highway. The prestressed concrete bulb-tee beams are 5’-6” tall and will span 101’-0”. Aesthetic and cost-effective considerations lead to the selection of Mechanically Stabilized Earth abutments for this bridge. Integral end bents will be constructed for this bridge to eliminate bridge deck joints. The interior support for the bridge will be a 5-column frame bent with a crashwall. The substructures for this bridge will be supported on 12” steel H-piles driven to bedrock. The beams will be supported on elastomeric bearing pads at the interior support.