RC117 MarApr 2025 - Magazine - Page 25
WSP
“To fully understand the overall damage that had been done, an
intensive specialized testing program that included petrographic
examination of the heat effected concrete was initiated.”
(RCMP) cleared me to enter the site, and the rapid bridge
assessment began.
A rapid damage assessment was completed through
visual inspection of the entire impacted area. In this case,
damage was observed from both the bridge deck and from
the ground level below the bridge. Signi昀椀cant sections
of broken down (spalled) concrete were observed on the
underside of the girders on Span 1 and Span 2, along
with localized areas of spalled concrete on the underside
of the girders within Span 3. Within Spans 1 and 2, the
most severe damage was on the exterior girders near the
deck drain outlets. The bridge deck also showed signs of
昀椀re damage, speci昀椀cally on the parapets (railings), with
RENEWCANADA.NET
When a truck carrying flammable liquid struck the bridge, a portion of the liquid
spilled onto the bridge deck and caught on fire. The bridge’s drainage system
allowed for the condensate to seep down to the underside of the structure, thus
spreading the fire to the girders below.
MARCH/APRIL 2025 – RENEW CANADA 25
