New River Gorge Bridge

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Fayetteville, WV

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Presenters

• Shaun Long Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
  Bridge Engineer
• Josh Derechin Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
  Senior Technical Manager
• Jimmy Wriston West Virginia DOT

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Crossing the Gorge

• Fayette Station Road
• Built in 1909, Only way to cross the gorge
• Corridor L, US19, began in 1960

Tunney Hunsacker Bridge
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Crossing the Gorge

• Turn a 45 minute trip into 45 seconds
• Making the impossible a reality
• new transportation and new life blood John
  D. Rockefeller, IV

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• Bridge was immortalized by US Mint

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Design
• Construction
• Inspection
• Tourism

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Design
• Construction
• Inspection
• Tourism

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Design

• Bridge Types Considered
• Arch Bridge (Top)
• Suspension Bridge (Bottom)
• Deck Truss

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Design

• Manhours for design were equivalent of one man
  working 40 hours per week for 15 years
• Design calculation sheets totaled 4,759
• Baker engineers checked approximately 1,490 shop
  drawings
• Baker engineers analyzed 75 erection procedures
  and 1,200 sheets of accompanying calculations

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Design Features

• COR-TEN Steel
• High-Strength
• Aesthetic Beauty
• Lowe Maintenance

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Bridge Statistics Record Setting

• Upon opening, it was the second highest highway
  bridge in the world.
• Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado built in 1929
• Record currently held by Siduhe River Bridge,
  China. 1627 ft

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Bridge Statistics Record Setting

• Upon opening, it was the longest Arch Bridge in
  the world.
• 2003 Lupu Bridge in China broke record

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Bridge Statistics Arch Length
Chaotianmen Bridge 1,811 Ft. 2009 China
Lupu Bridge 1,804 Ft. 2003 China
Bosideng Bridge 1,739 Ft. 2012 China
New River Gorge Bridge 1,700 Ft. 1977 U.S.
Bayonne Bridge 1,673 Ft. 1931 U.S.
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Bridge Statistics Arch Height
Zhijinghe River Bridge 1,410 Ft. 2009 China
Beipanjiang River Railway Bridge 774 Ft. 2001 China
Mike OCallaghan Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge 886 Ft. 2010 U.S.
New River Gorge Bridge 876 Ft. 1977 U.S.
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Bridge Statistics Arch Height
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Bridge Statistics

• 34 Million Pounds of Structural Steel Equivalent
  to 120 Boeing 747s 7,555 Full Size Pick
  Ups

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Design
• Construction
• Inspection
• Tourism

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Construction

• WVDOH awarded a contract to U.S. Steel for the
  construction of the bridge
• June 21, 1973 Bid Results
• 33,984,012 - U.S. Steel
• 41,116,118 - Allied Structural Steel, Inland
  Ryerson Construction Products
• 46,383,282 Bethlehem Steel Corp.
• 52,496,017 Bristol Steel, Iron Works Inc.

Most expensive project awarded by WVDOH at the
time
2013 cost of bridge 173 million
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Construction

• Uniquely Designed Cableway

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Construction

• Uniquely Designed Cableway

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Construction

• Uniquely Designed Cableway

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Construction
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Construction
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Opening

• Opened October 22, 1977
• Representing Mans ability to challenge and
  overcome natures barriers

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Design
• Construction
• Inspection
• Tourism

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New River Gorge Bridge

• Design
• Construction
• Inspection
• Tourism

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Tourism

• Foresight to add Visitors center during
  construction

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Tourism

• Bridge Day Third Saturday in October

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Tourism