Open-spandrel, concrete arch bridges were common designs in the United States during the early 1900s. The long spans and tall profiles characteristic of this bridge type are well suited to a topography of deep ravines and river valleys. One of these arch bridges, the Franklin Avenue Bridge, was constructed from 1919 to 1923. It is located near Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, crossing over the Mississippi River Valley with five elegant arch spans.
The rehabilitation of the bridge, beginning in 2007, was firmly rooted in a comprehensive investigation of the condition, performance, and historical importance of the structure.
In the first of a two-part series, materials engineer John Lawler and structural engineer Arne Johnson detail the investigation phase and rehabilitation design for the restoration of this historic structure.
This article is republished courtesy of the American Concrete Institute.
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