Robert Y. Liang
Published: 2000
Total Pages: 574
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Bridge CUY-90-15.24, the Central Viaduct, also known as the Inner Belt Bridge, is part of the Interstate Highway System in Cleveland, Ohio. The structure carries up to eight traffic lanes, over many streets, the Cuyahoga River, Conrail tracks, the N-S Trestle, Cleveland Rapid Transit tracks, among others. The roadway carries an average of 134,660 vehicles per day. About nine percent of the traffic is heavy trucks. Since 1988, Richland Engineering Limited has inspected the bridge annually. In addition, beginning in 1991, detailed substructure stability study was carried out. From these studies, general observations revealed that: (a) Pier 1 has moved about 0.6 to 0.8 feet toward the river, and (b) The west end pier has moved about 0.3 to 0.4 feet toward the river. As an initial step to stabilize the slopes and piers, the grading and drainage improvements were completed in 1995. As a permanent stabilization to the upper slope, the CUY-90-15.24 project (PID No. 12374) has been approved. The stabilization scheme involved the use of drilled shafts, rock anchors, tiebacks, and driven piles. Because of unique features (extremely long drilled shafts, high capacity rock anchors) and the uncertainties of design assumptions (mechanisms of the slope stabilization), engineers have put into the plans a special item for instrumentation, testing, and long-term monitoring. The University of Akron was the designated research team to carry out the tasks involved in this special item.