HomeMy WebLinkAboutSN 3948 Narrative S Washington over Grand River 2017
BIENNIAL BRIDGE INSPECTION SUMMARY
SOUTH WASHINGTON AVENUE OVER THE GRAND RIVER
STRUCTURE NUMBER – 3948
CITY OF LANSING, MI
October 12, 2017
Tetra Tech
401 South Washington Square, Suite 100, Lansing, MI 48933
Tel 517.316.3930 Fax 517.484.8140 www.tetratech.com
The bridge is a single span steel bridge constructed in 1986. The bridge
is in overall good condition.
DECK
The bridge deck has diagonal cracks at the corners along with scattered longitudinal and transverse
cracks throughout. There are scattered vertical cracks on the deck fascias. The deck bottom has leaching
cracks corresponding to the cracks on the deck surface. There are median curbs with decorative
landscape plantings down the middle of the deck.
The bridge sidewalks have irregular longitudinal cracks and transverse cracks. Each sidewalk has a
longitudinal crack the full length of the bridge about 1‐foot from the face of the railing. The remaining
longitudinal cracks vary in length. The steel cover plate over the expansion joint is missing on the east
sidewalk at the north end.The expansion joint is partially filled with dirt and debris. There are cracks in
the backwall adjacent to the expansion joint.
The bridge railings are concrete open parapet with a two‐tube aluminum railing. The concrete railings
have some minor map cracking and minor chips in the posts. One post on the east railing has a minor
spall. There is a minor dent on the west rail tube and a 4” long hole in the upper aluminum tube at the
southeast returnwall. The openings in the parapet railing do not meet current AASHTO standards for
pedestrian railings.
SUPERSTRUCTURE
The painted steel plate girders are in generally good condition with light scattered spot rust. There is
moderate rust on the bottom surface of the bottom flange of the 3rd and 4th beams from the west at
the north end. There is moderate rust on the bottom surface of the bottom flange for the northernmost
30‐feet of the 9th beam from the west with heavier rust and some delamination at the north abutment.
There is light to moderate corrosion on the rocker bearings at the north abutment.
SUBSTRUCTURE
There are leaching map cracks at the northwest, northeast and southeast return walls. There are
diagonal cracks on the southwest and northeast returnwalls. There are some hairline vertical cracks on
the face of the abutments. There is a shallow spall/hollow area near the top of the south abutment at
the east end. The face of the north abutment was damp under the 3rd and 9th beams from the west,
indicating leaking at the backwall or expansion joint.
There is a concrete retaining wall with a paved pedestrian path in front of the south abutment and cast‐
in‐place concrete slope paving in front of the north abutment. A few panels are cracked. There is a
corrugated plastic drain pipe at the base of the slope paving in the northeast quadrant. The drain pipe is
plugged and does not appear to be functioning.
Tetra Tech
401 South Washington Square, Suite 100, Lansing, MI 48933
Tel 517.316.3930 Fax 517.484.8140 www.tetratech.com
APPROACHES
The approach pavement is bituminous with concrete curb and gutter. The approaches have median
curbs with decorative landscape plantings. The approach guardrail has numerous small dents and does
not meet current MDOT standards. There is brush partially obstructing the approach sidewalk in the
southwest and southeast quadrants.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Replace missing expansion plate cover at the east sidewalk.
Zone paint corroded beam ends at north abutment.
Replace approach guardrail.
Cut brush partially blocking sidewalks at southwest and southeast quadrants.
Replace railing tube with hole on southeast returnwall.
Retrofit concrete parapet railing to meet current AASHTO standards for clear openings.
Periodically clean out expansion joint.