Near Collapse of the St. Adolphe Bridge - An Exercise in Emergency Geotechnical Engineering

R.M. Kenyon, R.J. Eden, B.P. Arpin

In the proceedings of: GeoEdmonton 2018: 71st Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 13th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Soil Mechanics and Foundations (Case Studies)

ABSTRACT: In late August of 2009, routine bridge inspection by Manitoba Infrastructure (MI) of the St. Adolphe Bridge crossing of the Red River revealed that Pier SU 3 on the west bank of the river had started to move dramatically. Movement had been metres in magnitude. The emergency objective response was to stabilize the moving/failing riverbank sufficiently to allow for safe demolition of the damaged bridge sections and to avoid any collateral damage to the remainder of the structure. Temporary stabilization included offloading the top of bank plus a large toe berm in the river. Permanent stabilization included a shear key of rockfill columns. This paper highlights all aspects of the emergency engineering response, including the design of first stabilization works, safe demolition of the damaged portion of the bridge structure, followed by permanent bank stabilization for bridge reconstruction.

RÉSUMÉ: Une inspection du pont de Saint-Adolphe traversant la rivière Rouge effectuée par Infrastructure Manitoba à la fin du mois tout en protégeant le restant de la structure. La stabilisation temporaire de la berge comprenait le déchargement du la conception des premiers travaux de stabilisation, la démolition sécurisée de la partie endommagée du pont ainsi que la stabilisation permanente des berges pour permettre la reconstruction du pont.

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