| Abstract or description |
The Red Lillooet River Bridge is located east of Pemberton on Hwy 99 (Sea to sky) which is a popular tourism route. The bridge crosses the Lillooet River and connects Pemberton to the Lil’wat nation and Mount Currie. The 117-m long two-lane bridge was built in 1987. Over the years, the bridge deck has deteriorated and was rated as in poor condition. The deck top surface was extensively patched, which significantly reduced rideability. The objective of the Red Lillooet River Bridge Deck Renewal Project was to resurface the deck and to improve the rideability and travelling experience.
The deck renewal design needed to consider several challenges or site constraints:
- The design solution should provide the best valued benefit: improving the rideability and travelling experience with lower cost.
- Full closure of the bridge and Highway 99 was not an option. The design solution should allow the construction to take place in two phases and half width of the deck be replaced in each phase so that the other half can remain open to traffic.
- The navigable channel underneath should remain unobstructed and protected from contamination due to construction activities.
Given that the top surface showed extensive deterioration, two repairing schemes were developed based on the condition of the soffit. For deck area with evidence of bottom mat reinforcement corrosion, full depth replacement was recommended. For deck area with no deterioration visible in the soffit, partial depth repair was recommended. Most of the deck overhang was in good condition; therefore, only localized partial depth repair was required. This cost-effective solution minimized risks related to the environment, utilities, and public safety.
The deck renewal design was developed collaboratively with the owner during the design stage. The project was successfully completed in August 2023.
The finished product is a more durable bridge deck that matches seamlessly with the existing road. The renewed deck consists of high-performance concrete with corrosion prohibiting measures such as stainless-steel reinforcement and galvanic anodes. The replacement of the existing deck joints with reinforced concrete link slab improved the rideability and requires less maintenance effort in the long term.
This presentation will be a case study describing design and construction features of the project and the collaborative efforts from BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the owner), designers, and stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.
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