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Author Topic: Interesting freeway overpasses  (Read 6832 times)

roadman65

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Interesting freeway overpasses
« on: January 09, 2023, 12:40:01 AM »

https://goo.gl/maps/cKGqvHNz6Rp3Dgoh8
This bridge as I’ve seen plenty living in New Jersey, always fascinated me how the span over the SB lanes of US 202 & 206 is much longer than the NB lanes.  Of course you can see the roadway is wider on the SB side than the NB travel lanes, hence its design.

You don’t see overpasses built this way often to accommodate merge lanes or exit lanes to differentiate the travel lanes to vcreate a custom made overpass. Underpasses yes, but not overpasses and one like this to stand out.
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kirbykart

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2023, 10:39:29 AM »

I always thought this overpass on the Berkshire Connector was strange due to it both going uphill and being at an extreme angle.

Max Rockatansky

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2023, 12:26:36 PM »

I know this thread is more accurately titled but I’m getting tolbs “fancy bridges”  flashbacks.
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Stephane Dumas

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2023, 09:45:58 AM »

In Quebec we got 2 arched overpass; one on A-15 at Ste-Adèle https://goo.gl/maps/gmWvt9hGDcXFJnpH7 and on PQ-175 at Stoneham. https://goo.gl/maps/UwVXRrypN1hkbzVz7

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catch22

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2023, 04:08:46 PM »

I've always thought this was a little different.  The bridge itself isn't too special, but the location is.  It shows just how much of a cut the Ohio Turnpike required on the east slope of the Cuyahoga River valley.  You can see this from a fair distance traveling eastbound.

https://goo.gl/maps/MDFK4h43DDNTW5kC7
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IowaTraveler

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2023, 07:46:47 PM »

This bridge over I-74 in East Peoria, IL is much higher up than a typical overpass and has a steep slope to reach the top of the bluff. It also has a deck truss, which isn't too common for a freeway overpass.

This bridge over I-55/I-70 in the St. Louis suburbs is what happens when a transportation department decides to combine redneck engineering and actual civil engineering. Instead of demolishing the bridge and replacing it with a longer span so they could widen the freeway underneath, IDOT decided to extend the existing bridge by adding cantilevers to the ends.
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US 89

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2023, 07:57:29 PM »

This bridge over I-55/I-70 in the St. Louis suburbs is what happens when a transportation department decides to combine redneck engineering and actual civil engineering. Instead of demolishing the bridge and replacing it with a longer span so they could widen the freeway underneath, IDOT decided to extend the existing bridge by adding cantilevers to the ends.

That looks almost like a GSV stitching error. I actually really like it.

bsmart

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2023, 09:48:06 PM »

I've always thought this was a little different.  The bridge itself isn't too special, but the location is.  It shows just how much of a cut the Ohio Turnpike required on the east slope of the Cuyahoga River valley.  You can see this from a fair distance traveling eastbound.

https://goo.gl/maps/MDFK4h43DDNTW5kC7


I'll see your I-80 bridge with its cousin on I-70 at Braddock Ridge west of Frederick MD (That is Ridge Road on the overpass)
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4437821,-77.4999658,3a,75y,331.25h,80.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sj79M_f8c4qBQIpLPmAL8VA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And raise you this one that on I-68 just east of Morgantown, WV that seems awfully spindly for the height.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5917215,-79.9323213,3a,75y,42.71h,91.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sx7P72MMv8_bBlaTSecfuKA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
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webny99

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2023, 08:43:45 AM »

And raise you this one that on I-68 just east of Morgantown, WV that seems awfully spindly for the height.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5917215,-79.9323213,3a,75y,42.71h,91.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sx7P72MMv8_bBlaTSecfuKA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This one is spectacular, but it also needs better barriers. I'd be nervous to even walk across with those knee-high jersey barriers and no fencing (although at least the shoulders are fairly wide).
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Rothman

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2023, 09:02:16 AM »

And raise you this one that on I-68 just east of Morgantown, WV that seems awfully spindly for the height.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5917215,-79.9323213,3a,75y,42.71h,91.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sx7P72MMv8_bBlaTSecfuKA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

This one is spectacular, but it also needs better barriers. I'd be nervous to even walk across with those knee-high jersey barriers and no fencing (although at least the shoulders are fairly wide).
Looks safe enough to me as is.
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Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

wriddle082

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2023, 11:42:31 AM »

I suppose this one is a bit interesting, if not slightly ugly, and the home to weekday bottlenecks pretty much all of my life:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/akEoL84ZxY3kfpwo6?g_st=ic

This view is from US 41/70S Lafayette St. south of Downtown Nashville, and it’s looking at I-40 at Exit 210C for 2nd Ave S and 4th Ave S.  Lafayette St. simply passes underneath it all.  The 6-lane mainline I-40 overpass features large steel arches that go over Lafayette St, and the two middle-level access ramps that run parallel and connect 2nd and 4th have steel K-frame bridges going over Lafayette St.  It might look a little less ugly if the steel were painted something other than green, but this is the same color it’s been since it was built in the early 70’s (and fortunately it gets repainted periodically).
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wanderer2575

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #11 on: January 31, 2023, 01:21:31 PM »

Several bridges on I-94 in Detroit have been reconstructed ahead of the eventual freeway reconstruction/widening.  A few of these look unusual now because the new freeway will be realigned at those points and the new bridge has to be compatible with both the current and new alignments.

Here is Chene Street, looking west.  The new westbound lanes will be on the right.  You say that doesn't look like nearly enough room?  The center pier is only temporary; when the freeway is rebuilt, a permanent center pier will be constructed 15-20 feet to the left.  You can see new paving under the bridge at that spot; I'm guessing crews already constructed the footing for the new pier and then paved over it.
https://goo.gl/maps/WWyXxe2W9GPeGcEQ7

Here is Concord Avenue, looking west.  Again, the new westbound lanes will be to the right.  This center pier is permanent; you can tell by its artsy design.
https://goo.gl/maps/tyXqXBujPvyAM4Y66

The new network tied arch bridge at Second Street, first of its kind in Michigan.  Apparently there isn't any place a center pier would be compatible with the new stack interchange at M-10, just a stone's throw west.
https://goo.gl/maps/2a3X2HjxmeMTxCES8
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CtrlAltDel

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2023, 12:40:16 PM »

I suppose this one is a bit interesting, if not slightly ugly, and the home to weekday bottlenecks pretty much all of my life:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/akEoL84ZxY3kfpwo6?g_st=ic

This view is from US 41/70S Lafayette St. south of Downtown Nashville, and it’s looking at I-40 at Exit 210C for 2nd Ave S and 4th Ave S.  Lafayette St. simply passes underneath it all.  The 6-lane mainline I-40 overpass features large steel arches that go over Lafayette St, and the two middle-level access ramps that run parallel and connect 2nd and 4th have steel K-frame bridges going over Lafayette St.  It might look a little less ugly if the steel were painted something other than green, but this is the same color it’s been since it was built in the early 70’s (and fortunately it gets repainted periodically).

That one's interesting since you have a dramatic arch bridge, but it's almost hidden.
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royo6022

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ilpt4u

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2023, 11:58:32 PM »

I’m surprised the “pier-less”  overpasses in IL, mostly along I-39, haven’t been mentioned.

They have been discussed on the Great Lakes board before, on the “Illinois Notes”  thread

I had to drive to Bloomington yesterday, and to mix things up a bit I took I-80 to I-39 to get there. On the way, I saw those single span bridges that were mentioned in this thread a while back, and I have to admit, I like them. I don't know how much they cost, but they give a clean uncluttered look to the landscape.


Designed by the late structural engineer, Wei Hsiong. This was a design that he came up with after late IDOT District 3 Engineer Bob Blasius asked if an economical design could be achieved that eliminated the center pier. At each end there are counterweights attached to steel tendons that pull down the beam ends that are inside the vaulted abutments, sort of a fulcrum on each end that counteract the sag in the middle of the span. The whole corridor was inexpensive even by that era's standards, I was told the 51 miles from Oglesby to Normal came in around $350 million.
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7646.msg2561718#msg2561718
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bwana39

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2023, 10:24:42 PM »

https://goo.gl/maps/c9iX6hqRh3iijCvz7
The really interesting part is that the bases of the arches were originally at ground (and roadway) level and had a 2x2 freeway neatly underneath with a far lesser clearance.
« Last Edit: February 15, 2023, 10:28:25 PM by bwana39 »
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on_wisconsin

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Re: Interesting freeway overpasses
« Reply #16 on: March 17, 2023, 03:14:21 AM »

Not particularly interesting structurally but the retaining walls at the I-41/ CTH VK- Lombardi Ave interchange have large Packers logos:
https://goo.gl/maps/oJdqtheFqtKdKtFe6

As well as various team art under the bridge:
https://goo.gl/maps/8mC6N5KGeK6PY6c49
« Last Edit: March 17, 2023, 03:21:57 AM by on_wisconsin »
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