RC117 MarApr 2025 - Magazine - Page 26
TRANSPORTATION
exposed aggregate and localized spalling on the tra昀케c face of the
concrete barriers on the south end of the bridge.
Following the visual inspection of the site, I interviewed the
individual who was responsible for 昀椀ghting the blaze. During that
interview, it was realized that a tandem axle water truck was used
for 昀椀re suppression and had driven down the centre portion of the
bridge. The water truck was 昀椀lled 昀椀ve times (at the north approach
to the bridge) and travelled the full length of the bridge to 昀椀ght the
昀椀re at the south approach. This resulted in 10 passes of the truck
over the entire length of the bridge, 昀椀ve passes with the truck full
of water, and 昀椀ve passes with the truck empty. The water truck
vehicle registration was reviewed, and the net vehicle weight was
listed as 19,700 kg with an operating gross vehicle weight (GVW)
of 29,550 kg.
The bridge being able to support the fully loaded water truck over
its entire length for 昀椀ve passages during the response to the 昀椀re was
an important consideration in the rapid damage assessment that led
to a determination that the bridge could be re-opened to single rear
axle passenger vehicles in a single lane alternating con昀椀guration
down the centre of the bridge. Based on this recommendation, the
bridge was re-opened under these restrictions immediately, once the
police released the site back to the owner.
At 6:35 pm the RCMP and the coroner completed their
26
RENEW CANADA – MARCH/APRIL 2025
investigation of the scene and at 6:49 pm the bridge was re-opened to
restricted tra昀케c.
While the immediate threat had been contained and restricted
tra昀케c had been restored, there was still the need to fully understand
the overall damage that had been done. This resulted in immediate
initiation of an intensive specialized testing program that included
petrographic examination of the heat e昀昀ected concrete. In parallel
with the testing program, structural analysis of the bridge in its
damaged state was completed. During this time, restricted tra昀케c
was able to continue to 昀氀ow across the bridge with a phased reopening to full unrestricted tra昀케c as the test results came available
and were integrated into the structural evaluation and load rating.
While the damage to the bridge was severe, it was fortunate that all
of the bridge spans were salvageable, and that full unrestricted tra昀케c
was restored in a timely manner. However, much of this was thanks to
knowing who to call to have the structure assessed, the knowledge of
what needed to be observed and how, and the swift ability to analyze
the information presented to determine next steps. Because of this
we were able to get tra昀케c moving through the area in a timely and
e昀케cient manner.
Disasters happen. Knowing how to respond to them e昀케ciently and
e昀昀ectively is crucial in minimizing the impact on those people who
count on the functionality of the asset on a day-to-day basis.
RENEWCANADA.NET
WSP
While the damage to the bridge was severe, it was fortunate that all of the bridge spans were salvageable, and that full unrestricted traffic was restored in a timely manner.
