For the civil engineer in all of us, SCVTalk offers more “bridge geek” related to Valencia’s newest structure:
- Width: 190 feet
- Weight: Over 200,000 lbs
- Cost: just under $1M
- Manufacturer: Big-R Bridge in Greeley, Colorado
SCVTalk reader and noted structural engineer kpuff likened traversing through the bridge “as though you’re walking through a beam.” He also offers some insight on the strength of the unit:
This bridge scheme is actually quite rigid. Yes, it’s a relatively long span, but the reality is that the entire ‘box truss’ works together–there is a purpose, beyond architectural, for each and every steel piece you see. Generally, the governing design considerations (from a structural standpoint) are the deflection of the bridge at the middle and the anchorage/support to the abutments. This is addressed by the curvature (or ‘camber’) of the bridge you see and the pretty incredible concrete abutments they’ve constructed. The ‘strength’ of the bridge rarely what governs the sizes/quantity of steel used…not to mention that these things go through several rounds of approvals before they’re actually built, especially since they’re in the right-of-way.
Shame we can’t give it a go… yet: the bridge over Copper Hill Drive near West Creek Academy was set last night, though access won’t be possible until the paths leading to it are built.
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