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National Boards => Bridges => Topic started by: thenetwork on November 28, 2019, 11:10:19 AM

Title: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thenetwork on November 28, 2019, 11:10:19 AM
Back in the days when building new interstates were at their peak, states usually used a standard design (columns, arches, guardrails, etc...) when building their bridges and yet looked different from other states' bridges.

In the 21st century, with bridge widenings, better designs, replacements due to age, and some municipalities wanting one-of-a-kind styled overpasses, many of these "standard issue" bridges are slowly disappearing from the interstate/freeway system.

What did your state's 1960's-1970's standard-issue bridge look like? 

Here is from my birth state in Ohio:

https://goo.gl/maps/bGEZ516niCbvWxeR9

These were very Plain Jane, IMO.  Over the decades, some of the columns were "wrapped" with a thicker concrete column.

The Ohio Turnpike bridges used squarer columns:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3034748,-81.7353762,3a,75y,170.32h,92.36t/data=!3m10!1e1!3m8!1s95DRSXiAUTJnQGHFHWUPiw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D95DRSXiAUTJnQGHFHWUPiw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D3.5403216%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i51


Where I live now in Colorado:

https://goo.gl/maps/QDVBNyY6zQEA53vcA

Subtle arches over the freeway, with columns that look like toothpicks holding up the bridge.


I know of some other states with real unique designs, but I'll let the forum fill in the remaining states/provinces.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: MarkF on November 28, 2019, 08:10:50 PM
I was always interested in the differences in road design between the states.  I had a section on this in my old website:
https://web.archive.org/web/20111104053055/http://members.cox.net/mkpl/bridge/otherbr.html

Around 1980-1990, it seems like most the states had gone to the "Jersey barrier" design.

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: sprjus4 on November 28, 2019, 08:22:55 PM
For Virginia over the years, generally. Differs in some areas, for instance you may see some of the 1990s designs in 80s construction in areas, etc, but it gives you a general idea of how the designs have shifted over the years.

1950s - 1960s -
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6710876,-77.5559275,3a,75y,355.97h,81.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-dVZ0fGGHEYBwMfERdLT6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6010423,-78.1528423,3a,75y,38.93h,82.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTBdUocEmN5kdhbku0WyRqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

1970s - early 1990s -
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4787703,-76.9163204,3a,49.2y,298.52h,86.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smmXaUblEwR1Q1paOWiz2fQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9786612,-77.3925397,3a,75y,4.38h,80.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sh0JjQi8_MMB-D0pGYXYlmw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8757337,-76.4332064,3a,75y,10.49h,82.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZO1BwODEQb5OzvgnOk47VQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.1958043,-77.3212242,3a,71.2y,71.48h,86.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPXclrDGlagPXwjA15KZmAw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Mid 1990s - 2010s -
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7590909,-77.4592842,3a,73.5y,348.33h,84.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s51dWtPRf5tW5eTEG1yEjKQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7732079,-76.2550432,3a,75y,56.87h,86.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sayCR7c7u-cDbk1jCeeGjbQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Newest Bridges -
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9334649,-76.2960629,3a,75y,330.85h,83.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smrYuG1SIsZMF49tlSM7b0w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9344925,-76.3183268,3a,75y,171.02h,81.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smZBZDEI1FV8UD-YrLEFDEw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7477667,-76.2849734,3a,75y,131.6h,78.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEBi3pKn4PKcUeFmCalrpiA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

As for railings, the change over to the "jersey barrier" style was in the early 80s.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thenetwork on November 28, 2019, 09:20:11 PM
Some other memorable states of mine...

Michigan:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qNA5wDELk9FZ53Zg7

Iowa:   
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4qhS68wEumFaZVwP7

North Carolina:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36XFHBaKBZdBi5sa8
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: sprjus4 on November 28, 2019, 09:24:12 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on November 28, 2019, 09:20:11 PM
North Carolina:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36XFHBaKBZdBi5sa8
That particular segment of I-77 didn't open until 1977.

Here's one from 1961 on I-40 outside Marion, one of those type of bridges that looks like it's going to collapse at any minute -
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6443675,-81.9851262,3a,49.8y,227.14h,83.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYDzhK2qi1SAse4tBRhzxig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Beltway on November 28, 2019, 10:38:23 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on November 28, 2019, 08:22:55 PM
For Virginia over the years, generally. Differs in some areas, for instance you may see some of the 1990s designs in 80s construction in areas, etc, but it gives you a general idea of how the designs have shifted over the years.
[...]
As for railings, the change over to the "jersey barrier" style was in the early 80s.
That design was almost universal from the late 1970s until very recently.  The mid-1970s 22-mile I-495 widening utilized that.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7962979,-77.1351909,3a,15y,222.8h,81.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVhyvDQ5uijYPQLtm7ftjXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The metal railing went away a few years later, but kept the New Jersey shape (that was actually a GM Barrier, had a thicker base slope).

Recent years they have gone back to a vertical barrier with a railing on top... and I am not sure why.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5291384,-77.3113889,3a,30y,235.48h,85.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRplA3-fbz2ceHUgCArLw1g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Probably a result of more crash testing research that didn't reveal any difference in safety, and cheaper to build.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: noelbotevera on November 28, 2019, 11:16:26 PM
I'm sure Beltway has more knowledge on this, since it seems he's worked for PennDOT, but I'll give this a shot. Also note that I'll try to cover how PA's bridge designs have evolved, but it won't be perfect.

1940:
The PA Turnpike, being the first freeway in Pennsylvania, wrote its own book on building bridges. It seems the Turnpike would keep this style throughout its construction and expansion into the '50s. Copped this from exploringpahistory.com - has a postcard of the Turnpike that seems to be dated sometime around its opening.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fexplorepahistory.com%2Fkora%2Ffiles%2F1%2F2%2F1-2-5A4-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0b9p2-a_349.jpg&hash=bd57d97dcb4878f83db7d81fd553b75edf4dd75d)

1953:
While the Interstate system was being fleshed out, PA took the initiative to upgrade a few of its US Routes into freeways. Some Interstates were grandfathered into this primitive freeway system, such as I-83 around Harrisburg and I-78 in the area of Exits 13-17. This particular example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6802322,-75.3297043,3a,75y,68.27h,95.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.00046%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) comes from the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which was going to be I-78. Other bridges along US 22 have a different style, but seem to date from the early '50s. PADOH (Department of Highways, basically PennDOT before 1970) seems to have copied the Pennsylvania Turnpike's bridge design along this stretch, with few - if any - modifications.

1960:
As the Interstate system comes into being, PA's designs become less intricate. This style is common along I-81 all the way to Harrisburg, and I've seen many examples of this around the state.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7314327,-77.726454,3a,75y,343.84h,85.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1scaxt3gk_2j7iw0foj5PD_Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dcaxt3gk_2j7iw0foj5PD_Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D275.9266%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)

1977:
Nonetheless, PA's designs continue to improve, but have practically stagnated by this point. The I-81/US 322 interchange illustrates this point, having a very similar look to the early '60s bridges along I-81.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3020309,-76.8788008,3a,75.1y,316.7h,91.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slWluhx4K0_lZDsNzcvYfUg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DlWluhx4K0_lZDsNzcvYfUg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D12.452622%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)

1989:
Even in newer Interstate construction, PennDOT mostly sticks to familiar territory. Despite being a product of the late '80s, I-78's bridges in the Allentown area could pass for something in the '60s or '70s.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5720764,-75.5400293,3a,75y,41.84h,97.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGQcns9pA5Q35-v-Ys2IN3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

2001:
Though you could say some improvements have been made within the last forty years. In the new millennium, incremental improvements seem to be made.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2230033,-77.1771506,3a,79.2y,60.72h,98.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWAkBdhpCS3vGqY1rR4VewA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: sprjus4 on November 29, 2019, 12:06:35 AM
Quote from: Beltway on November 28, 2019, 10:38:23 PM
Recent years they have gone back to a vertical barrier with a railing on top... and I am not sure why.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5291384,-77.3113889,3a,30y,235.48h,85.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRplA3-fbz2ceHUgCArLw1g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Probably a result of more crash testing research that didn't reveal any difference in safety, and cheaper to build.
It varies it seems nowadays.

The I-64 Peninsula Widening Phase #2 (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2046696,-76.573837,3a,46y,313.39h,82.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1so0aNHiL0P-ECuIcLrGW9ew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) project completed in April 2019 utilized the typical jersey barrier style without railing.

The recently completed I-564 Intermodal Connector project has typical jersey barrier style without railing on its I-564 flyover (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9337293,-76.2962145,3a,75y,289.1h,82.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdZuPnBbaBELvSiXwb7luLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1), the wetlands bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9338868,-76.303266,3a,75y,246.51h,75.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soFVHKLLsFShdjF1mruNvew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1), and Hampton Blvd overpass (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9339704,-76.3178048,3a,75y,241.59h,80.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suAN-S7iaZDeC9tZ7wACv6g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1).

Not VDOT, but Chesapeake's Dominion Blvd expansion also features the typical jersey barrier style without railing on the Great Bridge Blvd (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.754504,-76.2713645,3a,75y,239.81h,84.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdGRweFmm-51XpbnWJssCFg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), Bainbridge Blvd Relocated (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7471692,-76.2846527,3a,75y,28.42h,88.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGNygRAY81jvpI4H6njVBkg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), Cedar Rd (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7272113,-76.30275,3a,75y,45.96h,85.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sW7mhfbpWxVHallaPfO-AYQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), and US-17 North to VA-168 South (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7545391,-76.2701563,3a,75y,77.03h,83.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHjR5KNrV1ddkL_Zm_tlBbA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) overpasses, but the Veterans Bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7363767,-76.2944879,3a,75y,73.14h,82.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siUH2dASnjvAw9eM5kRAecQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) piece of the project utilizes the barrier with rail.

Also Chesapeake, and not interstate or freeway, but they replaced this bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7462989,-76.3461811,3a,75y,2.16h,77.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTFYJ18J5OO0D-Mroz5XR5Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) in Deep Creek a few years back as apart of a 4-lane widening project, and it has the railing design.

VDOT's I-95 Meherrin River bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.69438,-77.5540096,3a,75y,22.85h,80.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sP4rbICmT_jci0sA4TzfXig!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) replacement project completed late last year features the jersey barrier design without rail.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Beltway on November 29, 2019, 01:42:21 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on November 29, 2019, 12:06:35 AM
Quote from: Beltway on November 28, 2019, 10:38:23 PM
Recent years they have gone back to a vertical barrier with a railing on top... and I am not sure why.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5291384,-77.3113889,3a,30y,235.48h,85.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRplA3-fbz2ceHUgCArLw1g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Probably a result of more crash testing research that didn't reveal any difference in safety, and cheaper to build.
It varies it seems nowadays.
The I-64 Peninsula Widening Phase #2 (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2046696,-76.573837,3a,46y,313.39h,82.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1so0aNHiL0P-ECuIcLrGW9ew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) project completed in April 2019 utilized the typical jersey barrier style without railing.
The recently completed I-564 Intermodal Connector project has typical jersey barrier style without railing on its I-564 flyover (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9337293,-76.2962145,3a,75y,289.1h,82.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdZuPnBbaBELvSiXwb7luLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1), the wetlands bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9338868,-76.303266,3a,75y,246.51h,75.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soFVHKLLsFShdjF1mruNvew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1), and Hampton Blvd overpass (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9339704,-76.3178048,3a,75y,241.59h,80.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suAN-S7iaZDeC9tZ7wACv6g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1).
Not VDOT, but Chesapeake's Dominion Blvd expansion also features the typical jersey barrier style without railing on the Great Bridge Blvd (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.754504,-76.2713645,3a,75y,239.81h,84.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdGRweFmm-51XpbnWJssCFg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), Bainbridge Blvd Relocated (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7471692,-76.2846527,3a,75y,28.42h,88.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGNygRAY81jvpI4H6njVBkg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), Cedar Rd (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7272113,-76.30275,3a,75y,45.96h,85.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sW7mhfbpWxVHallaPfO-AYQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), and US-17 North to VA-168 South (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7545391,-76.2701563,3a,75y,77.03h,83.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHjR5KNrV1ddkL_Zm_tlBbA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) overpasses, but the Veterans Bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7363767,-76.2944879,3a,75y,73.14h,82.6t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siUH2dASnjvAw9eM5kRAecQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) piece of the project utilizes the barrier with rail.
Also Chesapeake, and not interstate or freeway, but they replaced this bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7462989,-76.3461811,3a,75y,2.16h,77.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTFYJ18J5OO0D-Mroz5XR5Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) in Deep Creek a few years back as apart of a 4-lane widening project, and it has the railing design.
VDOT's I-95 Meherrin River bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.69438,-77.5540096,3a,75y,22.85h,80.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sP4rbICmT_jci0sA4TzfXig!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) replacement project completed late last year features the jersey barrier design without rail.
The bridge in Deep Creek is an urban design with a sidewalk, and the vertical barrier with a metal rail is more common in that setting.  Similar to the VA-147 Huguenot Bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.5613962,-77.5440362,3a,37.5y,186.31h,90.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sjIwRdxTcZp5plp-WN2SV8Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DjIwRdxTcZp5plp-WN2SV8Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D41.982426%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).

The others you listed appear to be the F-Shape Barrier, which has a smaller and lower flange than the New Jersey Barrier --
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-Shape_barrier

The F-shape barrier is a concrete crash barrier, originally designed to divide lanes of traffic on a highway.  It is a modification of the widely used Jersey barrier design, and is generally considered safer.

The F-shape and the Jersey-shape have the same slopes, but the distance from the ground to the slope break point of the F-shape is 255 millimetres (10.0 in), which is 75 millimetres (3.0 in) lower than the Jersey-shape.  This lower slope break point reduces vehicle lift, improving the barrier's performance.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thenetwork on November 29, 2019, 11:47:30 AM
As the OP, I wasnt even thinking of what was atop the bridges (guardrails, barriers, etc..).   I was looking more at the support designs that were holding the bridges up.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Beltway on November 29, 2019, 03:52:47 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on November 29, 2019, 11:47:30 AM
As the OP, I wasnt even thinking of what was atop the bridges (guardrails, barriers, etc..).   I was looking more at the support designs that were holding the bridges up.
That is called the substructure. 

Some of us were commenting on parts of the superstructure.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Big John on November 29, 2019, 04:10:24 PM
^^ The deck is the riding surface mostly on top, the superstructure carry the weigth on many bridges and is below the deck, the substructure is mostly under the superstructure connecting it to the ground/steel pilings.  Guardrails and barriers carry no strength of the bridge and the closest consideration a part of the deck.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: SteveG1988 on November 29, 2019, 05:47:13 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on November 28, 2019, 11:16:26 PM
I'm sure Beltway has more knowledge on this, since it seems he's worked for PennDOT, but I'll give this a shot. Also note that I'll try to cover how PA's bridge designs have evolved, but it won't be perfect.

1940:
The PA Turnpike, being the first freeway in Pennsylvania, wrote its own book on building bridges. It seems the Turnpike would keep this style throughout its construction and expansion into the '50s. Copped this from exploringpahistory.com - has a postcard of the Turnpike that seems to be dated sometime around its opening.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fexplorepahistory.com%2Fkora%2Ffiles%2F1%2F2%2F1-2-5A4-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0b9p2-a_349.jpg&hash=bd57d97dcb4878f83db7d81fd553b75edf4dd75d)

1953:
While the Interstate system was being fleshed out, PA took the initiative to upgrade a few of its US Routes into freeways. Some Interstates were grandfathered into this primitive freeway system, such as I-83 around Harrisburg and I-78 in the area of Exits 13-17. This particular example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6802322,-75.3297043,3a,75y,68.27h,95.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.00046%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) comes from the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which was going to be I-78. Other bridges along US 22 have a different style, but seem to date from the early '50s. PADOH (Department of Highways, basically PennDOT before 1970) seems to have copied the Pennsylvania Turnpike's bridge design along this stretch, with few - if any - modifications.

1960:
As the Interstate system comes into being, PA's designs become less intricate. This style is common along I-81 all the way to Harrisburg, and I've seen many examples of this around the state.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7314327,-77.726454,3a,75y,343.84h,85.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1scaxt3gk_2j7iw0foj5PD_Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dcaxt3gk_2j7iw0foj5PD_Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D275.9266%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)

1977:
Nonetheless, PA's designs continue to improve, but have practically stagnated by this point. The I-81/US 322 interchange illustrates this point, having a very similar look to the early '60s bridges along I-81.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3020309,-76.8788008,3a,75.1y,316.7h,91.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slWluhx4K0_lZDsNzcvYfUg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DlWluhx4K0_lZDsNzcvYfUg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D12.452622%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)

1989:
Even in newer Interstate construction, PennDOT mostly sticks to familiar territory. Despite being a product of the late '80s, I-78's bridges in the Allentown area could pass for something in the '60s or '70s.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5720764,-75.5400293,3a,75y,41.84h,97.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGQcns9pA5Q35-v-Ys2IN3A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

2001:
Though you could say some improvements have been made within the last forty years. In the new millennium, incremental improvements seem to be made.
Example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2230033,-77.1771506,3a,79.2y,60.72h,98.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWAkBdhpCS3vGqY1rR4VewA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

1940: the pa turnpike did use them. 1950s they started to phase it out, once they reached the outer extensions they just stopped building them, hence why they seem to stop near philly and ohio.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: US 89 on December 03, 2019, 10:39:25 AM
Most of the oldest bridges I see on Utah interstates tend to look like this. These ones in particular are likely the oldest bridges on I-84:

(https://i.imgur.com/DGRtabJ.jpg)
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: cl94 on December 03, 2019, 05:43:50 PM
New York...really depends on who built the thing and where it was built. But I'll try and link some typical designs.

New York City and the surrounding metro have a few styles:
There's the stone-faced arch (here on the Cross Bronx): https://goo.gl/maps/4nVK5GLQBQTQo3oK9
This is standard on the BQE: https://goo.gl/maps/4LbLNf1n7PLsBSbv9
The Van Wyck: https://goo.gl/maps/Q8hm5yoKAWPr5zFs8

Moving north...
This was the typical Thruway design: https://goo.gl/maps/n7Uo5a8hfbiGxoRs8
...but the Thruway also had a handful like this: https://goo.gl/maps/AJJ4UvvYAt6n4ZpA9
An original bridge on I-684: https://goo.gl/maps/Fqfj9j6qX8e8jjJQ7
A lot of NYSDPW bridges Upstate looked like this: https://goo.gl/maps/yy6NkGCtNM3Frr6E7
Mid-60s version, complete with original railing: https://goo.gl/maps/XSF8P9kUVUCwaNUT6
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: plain on December 03, 2019, 10:56:50 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on November 28, 2019, 08:22:55 PM
For Virginia over the years, generally. Differs in some areas, for instance you may see some of the 1990s designs in 80s construction in areas, etc, but it gives you a general idea of how the designs have shifted over the years.

1950s - 1960s -
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6710876,-77.5559275,3a,75y,355.97h,81.35t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-dVZ0fGGHEYBwMfERdLT6A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6010423,-78.1528423,3a,75y,38.93h,82.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTBdUocEmN5kdhbku0WyRqg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Apparently there was a time in the mid to late 1950's that had a specific design on the bridges. Study the Dumbarton Rd overpass on I-95 just south of today's Exit 81 (US 1). This is obviously an original RPT bridge, one of several left today. While there were other bridges in the state with similar railings up to about 1964, the columns under the bridge were a different story...

The original Hampton approach to the HRBT (today's I-64) had bridges with the same railings and columns as those on the RPT. While all of the original railings there are gone now, you can still find original columns underneath the freeway in at least 2 places, on N. King St and on Rip Rap Rd. There's additional columns there from the 1988 widening, but you can easily tell the originals.

Quote
As for railings, the change over to the "jersey barrier" style was in the early 80s.

Both I-295 (the US 60, the SR 627 and the SR 640 overpasses) and the US 17/258 James River Bridge are good examples of when this change occurred.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Revive 755 on December 03, 2019, 11:27:55 PM
Couple of candidates for Illinois:
* On I-80 (https://goo.gl/maps/YX8e6VM3Eu7t3XMA9)
* On I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/mmLewcJ7mHpCXok26)

For Missouri, which has replaced or modified a lot of bridges since the interstates were built:

I-55 over US 61 between Jackson and Cape Girardeau (https://goo.gl/maps/y4pTf5K7QuHtx4tP7)
Example of an older urban structure over I-55 at Arsenal Street in St. Louis City (https://goo.gl/maps/emvUsncm49vozcJt6)
Example of older interchange bridges on SB I-55 at I-44 (https://goo.gl/maps/2i8Sw2aZ17a2fVac6) (if you rotate the image, note the added pier for the bridge carrying EB I-44).

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Scott5114 on December 25, 2019, 02:52:31 PM
Your typical Oklahoma example. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0571192,-97.3866093,3a,75y,296.44h,90.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D87.37925%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: tolbs17 on December 25, 2019, 08:16:44 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 25, 2019, 02:52:31 PM
Your typical Oklahoma example. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0571192,-97.3866093,3a,75y,296.44h,90.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D87.37925%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
That looks kind of funny and it looks a little scary too. There's like no metal or concrete at the bottom, so what type of design is that bridge? I've never in my life seen bridges like those (Well I did, but it's rare, I saw a few around the Balt-Wash Parkway like these)!

Like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1140164,-76.7780847,3a,75y,40.12h,100.73t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sx36GhEMbK2eHczN9Zp14tw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dx36GhEMbK2eHczN9Zp14tw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D134.92361%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).

By the way that bridge was not even that old. it was built in the 80's or 90's with a bad interchange design.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 28, 2019, 01:15:12 PM
Georgia: three types of structure, three types of guardrail. Nine possible combinations of which seven were built and six survive.

This haunched T beam design with picket-style open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9626467,-84.0791922,3a,90y,270.75h,97.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sm7eoi5fmbaJqS8V51HBZlA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) was common on the first sections of I-75, and there are still a few left between Tifton and Cordele. This one's on GA 316, though. Wait: here's one in south Georgia (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.5495008,-83.5338515,3a,47.1y,325.16h,92.84t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swfJ9V7IhhlizgwR8fFzh6w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DwfJ9V7IhhlizgwR8fFzh6w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D62.037483%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), one of quite a few that were raised massively. The picket-style guardrail also was used on a few plate girder bridges such as this one on I-75 near Ashburn (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.8511015,-83.7178913,3a,75y,336.95h,89.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seOgGFx-uY9dGAu9Y_nt6qg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), but never with precast beams.

This precast beam bridge with two-tube metal guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.6264048,-83.5760966,3a,75y,313.8h,91.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6NLLQ-7uIOCxRU-lzdKlgw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) is also on I-75 in south Georgia. There's a surviving example of the plate girder version (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6282878,-83.9475421,3a,75y,259.21h,95.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMKauYc0J8dznafHJp6SfNA!2e0!5s20170101T000000!7i13312!8i6656) on I-20 near Conyers. Further west along I-20 are two surviving examples of the precast beam design, but with three-tube metal guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7029736,-84.1830601,3a,46.7y,264.92h,93.79t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqR9hiBONMD7WKW3b4iRuBg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DqR9hiBONMD7WKW3b4iRuBg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D256.12234%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) (if you look closely at the left end, you may be able to see that the guardrail on the end span is of a different type. I guess that the guardrail was damaged and they'd run out of replacement hardware!). There were plate girder bridges with the three-tube guardrail, too, but none of them survive.

And, out on what's now called GA 14 conn is a real unicorn: a haunched T beam bridge with three-tube guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6149948,-84.4997231,3a,48.5y,263.72h,95.44t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK0P0Ran03s1mIPMyiP_FiQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DK0P0Ran03s1mIPMyiP_FiQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D208.2742%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192). I think that this is the only one ever built, and AFAIK there was never a T beam bridge with two-tube guardrail.

Oh, I almost forgot: At the tail end of the early Interstate era came this one example of a plate girder bridge with early '50's-style bannister guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6720568,-84.4142706,3a,44.9y,34.08h,70.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srOjFl5CsWe8zbQFPsAIZHA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), on the I-85 Airport Connector in Atlanta. I have no idea why they chose this type of guardrail for exactly one location, but there it is.

In case anyone busts me... all three of these guardrail types were superseded in the early to mid '60's. First, a bulky new type of open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.4921942,-82.2752159,3a,75y,235.24h,89.27t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szDfGOzMef8vJhwXZEX7SpQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DzDfGOzMef8vJhwXZEX7SpQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D298.19824%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) came into extremely wide use between 1961 and 1964 or so, then abruptly fell out of use, presumably because it incorporated a dangerous so-called safety walk. There was also a two-tube-metal design with a short concrete parapet (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8062597,-83.7229581,3a,75y,75.87h,103.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1suZiLWhfCoBmNh94l27Wozg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) used during the same period, almost exclusively in urban areas. There was also a three-tube metal rail that was used for municipal projects (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.74711,-84.4299118,3a,75y,7.51h,99.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stRwAs4Zx10gFnNlgRe6B4w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) but only rarely by the state. the GA 166 project in Atlanta used single-tube rails that were apparently imported from Kentucky (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.6917978,-84.4898673,3a,15.4y,353.15h,79.16t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRGCxSRLr-MbETmgFzahv3w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRGCxSRLr-MbETmgFzahv3w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D34.405994%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192).

Starting in 1965, another type of really cool-looking metal guardrail appeared, in one (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9116349,-84.3575429,3a,17.3y,25.87h,81.04t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3usu6Wgu4npJZ9bbFP-AOA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D3usu6Wgu4npJZ9bbFP-AOA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D40.79436%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), two (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9136181,-84.3563506,3a,15.9y,237.75h,90.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7HfiZR1j_OfuP1Xh_u1eUQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) and three-tube (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8180781,-84.2464573,3a,43y,1.75h,81.14t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHrCcQIkok_9Vr_HCnINlMQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHrCcQIkok_9Vr_HCnINlMQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D78.88075%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) variants. Shortly after came a new concrete design which a bud of mine dubbed Florida Open Fence (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9840998,-84.5414682,3a,42.7y,324.66h,100.78t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCRh996aYACZuv8XD61_biA!2e0!5s20181201T000000!7i16384!8i8192). These types prevailed until the introduction of the Jersey barrier in the late '70's. By this time, steel plate girder spans were ubiquitous- - no more concrete, precast or cast-in-place.





Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: marleythedog on December 28, 2019, 10:11:21 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on November 28, 2019, 09:20:11 PM
Michigan:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qNA5wDELk9FZ53Zg7

I've always been intrigued by the insignia on Michigan's freeway bridge piers. It was pretty universal around the state (not sure about newer bridges, or the UP) and AFAIK unique. Does anyone know if there's history or significance to the mark?
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Revive 755 on December 28, 2019, 10:26:24 PM
Illinois also used the haunched beam design once:  Example on I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/e1Pb8aXupAzVPXyQ6).
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 29, 2019, 09:02:43 AM
Kentucky, which I've been inordinately fascinated with lately since traveling from Atlanta to Lexington to visit my daughter. This one, from 1960 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1853298,-85.238487,3a,15.6y,265.61h,91.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHUQ2aKIa02Vg7-h9TlCSqA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DHUQ2aKIa02Vg7-h9TlCSqA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D14.840418%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en-US), is the oldest four-span example I can find, though I think that there must've been older ones that have been replaced. It sports a two-tube metal guardrail rather than the single-tube rail that predominates throughout the state, which... It seems that Kentucky sometimes incorporates a minor design variation throughout a given stretch of highway. For I-64 between Louisville and US 60 near Frankfort, the two-tube rail is it, though alternate bent designs are more common. That said, this one with extra spans over the wide median (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1740021,-84.8252079,3a,75y,243.09h,89.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sf5B_9TxRb6W0CBJ5OlRluw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) is on that same stretch of I-64, also built in 1960, and sports the single-tube rail.

I don't know when Kentucky stopped building this type of bridge, but this one on the Natcher Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3503682,-86.7840152,3a,41.5y,301.6h,91.28t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s40bzqdtIXaBIF956qIl0XA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D40bzqdtIXaBIF956qIl0XA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D30.610565%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-US) is one of many built in 1972. This one has a different bent design, but the difference between it and the other such bridges found across the state is almost undetectably minor. Coming from Georgia, where it's easy to date most bridges by their appearance alone, I found the uniformity to be quite oppressive, especially considering how nondescript the replacement bridges are.

Having said that, I offer praise for Kentucky's curious decision to build different styles of bridges on some corridors during the Interstate era:

This box beam design (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.6920601,-88.7221307,3a,75y,37.61h,85.51t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sSy1Dz7kE8BLkinogyR15ww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DSy1Dz7kE8BLkinogyR15ww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D5.3674026%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) for the Purchase Parkway, c. 1967

The same box beam but with a handsome open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4589938,-87.4798148,3a,73.5y,325.01h,94.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sIUYnps2hAH3hhZHayWKuxw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DIUYnps2hAH3hhZHayWKuxw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D186.9438%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) on the Pennyrile Parkway, c. 1968

A few of these crazy things (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8061365,-87.6163765,3a,19.8y,285.24h,93.3t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2v-dDgBGOd5FPXixHGpEVw!2e0!5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656) on I-24 in the early '70's, along with this plate girder design (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9667062,-87.8741135,3a,50.3y,278.5h,99.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s61QOpOF3BoIEwOKV2-8ALg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), which IMO is considerably enhanced by the fin-like horizontal stiffener plates. Now, if they could round up some paint.  :rolleyes:

Last, an off-topic shoutout for this one-off on I-64 near Winchester (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0346612,-84.0783339,3a,90y,16.04h,94.9t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRZfzXT8NhV-Lip0AXq_Nug!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRZfzXT8NhV-Lip0AXq_Nug%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D121.50365%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).  :love:
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: SteveG1988 on December 29, 2019, 09:46:07 AM
I don't have any really good examples, but...are we making a distinction between Turnpikes built pre interstate (NJTP,PENN) and the first interstates built as interstates? Or are we going "if it was a limited access road and carries a shield of an interstate"
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: formulanone on December 29, 2019, 10:30:16 AM
Florida was a little late to the party, as most Interstate construction did not start until the early-1960s, with most of it incomplete until the late-1980s. The subsequent population and traffic boom meant a lot of bridges have been revamped (re-ramped?) and/or totally rebuilt. I-75's oldest sections have few original bridges left, many of I-4 and I-95's are in the same situation.

My terminology is probably incorrect, too. :)

I think this design might be the oldest of all - there's not many of these steelies remaining on Interstates, Florida's Turnpike, or any other limited-access highways:
Turnpike at Midway Road (CR 712) (https://www.google.com/maps/@27.3742244,-80.3837852,3a,55.2y,341.82h,87.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5CT3qMeVRmndX_py0Xq3og!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

Concrete pillars and steel girders with vertical ribbing are most common on the oldest Interstate bridges. They seem to be a late-1960s to early-1970s design in Florida:
I-95 at CR 507 in Palm Bay (https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9867961,-80.6222582,3a,90y,113.95h,83.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sO1qS9d01VfQLdZGQPCQnUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

An example in Miami for I-95 and the FL 836 / I-395 interchange which opened around 1968:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/8619/28013733234_4803483603_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JFtGUA)r

The all-stressed concrete variety are the most common Florida's Interstates:
I-95 at Pioneer Trail in Port Orange (https://www.google.com/maps/@29.0479581,-81.007323,3a,61.2y,153.67h,87.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxxNNxh5avg3D2DwempJ_7g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)

But it was used on some pre-Interstate structures, such as Florida's Turnpike (1956 - 1960s):
Turnpike at CR 523 (https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8764397,-81.023829,3a,75y,353.57h,82.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1se1qFw20awqW0DqHbWJYgnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) and Turnpike at "Fla. S.R. 68" (now CR 68 at this point). (https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4477991,-80.4274923,3a,75y,158.34h,84.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqmpWnGqi5LQtzWH0EtYUwQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

A bit off topic, but I always liked this decorative plaster-job of limestone coral rocks give it a unique design, though I don't know if it dates to the 1960s or not:
Exit 1 ramp to I-95 in Miami (https://www.google.com/maps/@25.7529201,-80.2044623,3a,72.8y,5.99h,82.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3AvkBnlgSbc-tWecpS82zw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 29, 2019, 10:54:56 PM
Alabama is all too easy: This T beam design with open concrete guardrail and an unusual thickening of the bottom of the beam (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7315218,-85.2930154,3a,24.6y,206.79h,91.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIogC2Bnz5DSMzD0aMds5iQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) was just shy of ubiquitous throughout the '60's, and is still (IMO) oppressively common today. It comes plain, too, without the thickened area (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.745835,-85.2811055,3a,75y,19.64h,90.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDXeh3NTLFfqhPs5dJxEqQA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). Eventually, in the early '70's, they switched to... the same thing, except plate girders instead of T beams (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0161661,-87.7533158,3a,48.8y,43.27h,96.03t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soqkeGp97t0VhcHHfx51cjA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DoqkeGp97t0VhcHHfx51cjA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D82.66323%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656). Oh, the open concrete guardrail got heftier, too, in the mid to late '60's.

EDIT: There are a few bridges with a two-tube metal guardrail instead of the open concrete rail (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8879298,-86.6237454,3a,20.4y,324.55h,91.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srewfY4QktepTyRu55cBSDg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrewfY4QktepTyRu55cBSDg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D75.29422%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656). By "a few" I mean one at a time, though this morning I stumbled across a clump of three or four on I-65 between Montgomery and Birmingham. IIRC, there's exactly one on I-65 between AL 113 and Montgomery, and none on I-85.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: vdeane on December 30, 2019, 12:38:06 PM
To me, nothing quite says "the South" like those open concrete guiderails (or as I like to call them, "Classic Southern Guiderail").  It's always been a treat to see it on my travels south.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: jeffandnicole on December 30, 2019, 12:56:20 PM
NJ has been quite consistent in their Interstate bridge design, with today's structures basically mirroring what was done back in the 1960's.  There's a few inconsistences, but that was true even back 70 years ago.

One of the more unique features of a small number of overpasses is the capless pier design, such as https://goo.gl/maps/T6U23PEzKaqYBE6d9 and https://goo.gl/maps/ve31QE9o3MmwenK27 .  And I-195 was built with a trapezoid pier design, unlike most everywhere else within the state ( https://goo.gl/maps/DJG6eUgefzJxAaAD7 ).  But otherwise, NJ consistently used a very basic pier and cap design, with steel or concrete I-beams, for the grand majority of their overpasses.  When a new or full replacement is required, it rarely deviates from this original design.

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: BrianP on December 31, 2019, 04:06:52 PM
For MD I'd submit this one:
https://goo.gl/maps/KPULhDryTYmuvvYXA
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on January 02, 2020, 07:03:06 AM
Mississippi, I was pleasantly amazed to discover, used an amazing variety of bridge designs in the early years of the Interstate system. 'I-20 in Mississippi kept me thoroughly entertained," I said after my first trip through. I'm gonna catalog the early designs along I-20, west to east- - not every bridge, but every type. The other Interstates, maybe another day.

Most states had gotten away from concrete T beams by 1971, but four of these gracefully arched structures (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.309945,-90.8969464,3a,39y,41.33h,82.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxLL9EDjwX2rkEOQgckaTrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) carry I-20 and its ramps just east of the 1973 Mississippi River bridge. A bit to the east, three ofthese long-span plate girder bridges (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3141576,-90.8862964,3a,49.2y,191.08h,82.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szntTrO047aBtPvjlL6LDRA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DzntTrO047aBtPvjlL6LDRA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D125.10975%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), also from 1971, are used at the I-20-US 61 interchange. All of these bridges now have Jersey barrier parapets, which were likely not original equipment.

These 1960 plate girder structures (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3425996,-90.8433896,3a,41.9y,282.88h,94.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sI0gc_jrcMb7fPwOMzGXQ5w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DI0gc_jrcMb7fPwOMzGXQ5w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D226.8968%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) with  open concrete guardrails supported by an intricate deck edge cantilever carry I-20 over eastbound old US 80. A few hundred feet east, these concrete box beams with a much cleaner open concrete guardrail design (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3435557,-90.8422342,3a,75y,293.13h,90.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spxmJ30ypAumXR3GwF-hqKw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) carry it over westbound old US 80. And another few hundred feet away,  this plate girder design with the cleaner open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.343655,-90.8402059,3a,66y,103h,90.27t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sftn_Cohq94VWTn7ntGb3Kg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) carries a ramp.

At the next interchange, with the northern leg of US 61,  these 1961 precast beam bridges with open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3484216,-90.8287462,3a,31y,265.13h,94.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sx1PMNk5hZ-LgSe3EFnxmKw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dx1PMNk5hZ-LgSe3EFnxmKw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D243.73798%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) carry the US 61 mainline. A few hundred feet east, this curving cast-in-place concrete box beam (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3484774,-90.8281316,3a,75y,82.6h,91.12t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sx0K_sxA_JNrO2f3Q8t5TIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) caries a ramp. The previous box beam I mentioned was supported on a bent, but this one's round columns extend directly into and are integrated with the box beam. Except for the guardrail, it's quite California-looking.

Moving east, the next bridge over I-20 is another bent-supported concrete box beam (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3514925,-90.8005317,3a,75y,62.76h,86.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s70Lq6x3AkH_BQLliWkckgw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), but here the open concrete guardrail is topped by a single-tube metal rail to make it a bit less harrowing for any pedestrians who venture out upon it. It's fair to call this bent-supported box beam with open concrete guardrails a standard design of its era.

Since we're here, I must mention a pair of real unicorns: these two 1955 plate girder bridges with old skool picket-type guardrail with two horizintal concrete lintels (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3544854,-90.7342417,3a,48.3y,73.04h,91.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-udaD6Ww9UZGWol7mSi_Sg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D-udaD6Ww9UZGWol7mSi_Sg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D42.78326%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656). It's amazing that these bridges still survive when so many newer ones in nearby Vicksburg have been replaced with boring, modern AASHTO beam structures.

Starting at mile 25 or so are these 1971 Californian cast-in-place concrete box beams (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3604844,-90.4642524,3a,75y,82.05h,91.14t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sR7QVVnfF4p_tXZmLVMdj_g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DR7QVVnfF4p_tXZmLVMdj_g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D281.75827%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), supported by single columns integrated with the beams and with a painfully short single-tube metal guardrail. Also from 1971, these precast beam bridges with spindly-looking bents (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3528012,-90.3942241,3a,75y,187.83h,90.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfr0BtLRppM03Q8Pvo70wAA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) carry the I-20 mainline. This one still has the original, very short concrete parapet, though its companion is having its parapet replaced by something more modern. Others (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3018515,-90.2829929,3a,54y,9.94h,97.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1soJNIWYzlEz_Ihz7C3HUFfA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DoJNIWYzlEz_Ihz7C3HUFfA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D153.94257%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) have more substantial-looking bent columns.

Just west of Jackson are these 1969 cast-in-place box beams (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2931052,-90.2671859,3a,75y,116.77h,88.4t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1st8IzmATFUyHTAF88e1VN0A!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dt8IzmATFUyHTAF88e1VN0A%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D97.62407%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656). Unlike the ones I've mentioned previously, the edge cantilevers are very short, IMO making them less attractive that the others I've listed. The guardrail on these (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2925872,-90.2670144,3a,41.5y,7.79h,71.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sc43KaIXiAbk8nlPkwKClEA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dc43KaIXiAbk8nlPkwKClEA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D44.526245%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) looks similar to a Jersey barrier, but not identical. I can't say that this is a standard design, but I wouldn't be surprised to find it elsewhere in the state.

This precast beam design (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2910039,-90.2613571,3a,75y,289.43h,94.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sv-bO-L5o6wI3HlafbGxB-Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) definitely qualifies as standard, being used for most of the bridges carrying the mainline. This one's guardrail is the same short, solid concrete design we've already seen on mainline bridges, but topped here by a single-tube metal rail. A whole bunch of these were built in 1966, including for the interchange with the southern leg of I-55. This design comes in plate girder, too, including this steel straddle bent monster (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2754303,-90.2074232,3a,41.6y,230.64h,86.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spxxfDjGVDGBw9mzM1cc4QA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DpxxfDjGVDGBw9mzM1cc4QA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D45.84065%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) carrying the eastbound I-20 mainline over I-55.

Damn, this is a lot of work, and probably no one will read it. Ima skip ahead to east of Meridian, where we find the quintessential Mississippi early Interstate bridge design (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3447091,-89.0445595,3a,75y,45.89h,94.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPnKk5CnADmUnTDymRRuqVQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), c. 1961. It's a cast-in-place T beam with integrated columns and, I think, a slightly different open concrete guardrail. I'd say that this is the equal of any other state's quirky early Interstate bridge design.

Also, there's this 1960 box beam design on T-shaped columns (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4114485,-88.4696421,3a,75y,55.61h,95.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJaMfcJwUwzJy69557iCm5g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) isolated from the beams rather than integrated. I'm a sucker for T-shaped columns.

Wow, I can call myself finished now! Here's one more, though: this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3379692,-89.1654229,3a,75y,97.28h,92.14t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7MmlgQJkofsNl5YrPGrkMg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) is a 1966 single-column cast-in-place box beam over the highway, but with short precast spans over the adjacent creek.

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: MCRoads on January 27, 2020, 05:59:15 PM
Oklahoma:


The new bridges are almost always plate girder constructions, which i prefer over the ugly concrete bridges they built all over Oklahoma in the first days of building the interstates.

I live in Colorado now, and the only cookie-cutter type bridges i know of were recently demolished to make way for an extra lane* from CO Spgs to Denver.

*The extra lane is a toll lane, because of course it is.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on February 24, 2020, 10:50:03 PM
Indiana used two main types, both common enough that I'm not sure which outnumbers the other. There's this arched concrete T beam design (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.409604,-85.7649393,3a,75y,331.25h,94.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1se8s9R87bXFlUwNpOeg-Tug!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). Then there's this rather ungainly design (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8890908,-85.8104844,3a,49.6y,336.24h,94.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1se_2CQ1oEPf5DuFgq_IFnGQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) with steel plate girder main spans and cast-in-place T beam side spans. There's some variety in guardrail and bent designs, especially for the T beam bridges, and a variant of the plate girder design using voided slabs for reduced structure depth (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4901085,-85.7712332,3a,75y,300.8h,91.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sLA_mNwWkwFar2mRtYeG3cQ!2e0!5s20141001T000000!7i13312!8i6656) often carries the freeway roadways.

Good news for those who are watching with disdain as AASHTO beam bridges, with or without corny tacked-on decorations, gradually take over: the plate girder bridges are having their superstructures replaced while leaving the existing bents at least partly intact, as shown  here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5586469,-85.7787016,3a,75y,358.83h,89.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sr8T7JRh6-ZSq-eD4Le5o3Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). The substitution of plate girders for the side spans actually improves the appearance while remaining true to the original look. There are alternatives in play for the guardrails, too. I am cautiously optimistic.

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on February 26, 2020, 06:09:39 AM
Missouri: This particular one on I-70 is from 1963, so they're not the original Interstate bridges we've been tasked with posting about, but here's a shoutout to these super-utilitarian voided slab bridges (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9938212,-93.7114559,3a,75y,287.95h,90.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTUZ1HlpIL6Xh7pfCvzMJKA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) (bridgereports link (http://bridgereports.com/1294593)).  The W beam guardrails tacked on the sides make them look pathetic, but this one on I-55 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5185957,-89.6008115,3a,75y,0.17h,90.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sifAIVJ5yVjr82PxGDbPVwQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), from 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1272716) has a proper guardrail and looks a lot more legit. According to a Missouri-based bridge contractor I spoke to in a Facebook group, they're being replaced with conventional bridges, which entails raising the entire roadway due to the much greater structure depth. Oddly, most of the bridges on that stretch of I-55 are conventional plate girder bridges like this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.3493043,-89.7012509,3a,50.2y,355.18h,93.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXatQoXF7wbmu8S4nQoUWow!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DXatQoXF7wbmu8S4nQoUWow%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D55.67774%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192); it's not at all obvious to me why they went to a radically different design for a few of them.

EDIT: Looking for the oldest surviving original Interstate bridges in the state. Here's one on I-44 (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7845144,-92.268743,3a,75y,84.5h,92.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYeClP_DpXMcatobdG-_gKQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) from 1955, modified in 1987 (http://bridgereports.com/1293279).One from 1958 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.462583,-90.8596668,3a,48y,54.62h,89.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sA1tliMlOV7HO6VCw0kAF7Q!2e0!5s20130801T000000!7i13312!8i6656),  now replaced. http://bridgereports.com/1293321 There's one from 1954 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1832647,-94.5215962,3a,75y,59.47h,92.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szbRuaxZGjc992-ra85VJag!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) on I-35 north of KC (http://bridgereports.com/1293203), too. I guess these were of the standard early Interstate bridge type that the OP was asking for.

Oh, wow: this on on I-70 in Columbia (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9671486,-92.3078676,3a,68.7y,281.13h,97.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-pc3xdlKLstXWvNE9UXy1w!2e0!5s20190601T000000!7i16384!8i8192), from 1957 (http://bridgereports.com/1292979)!

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on February 26, 2020, 06:28:15 AM
Quote from: tolbs17 on December 25, 2019, 08:16:44 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 25, 2019, 02:52:31 PM
Your typical Oklahoma example. (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.0571192,-97.3866093,3a,75y,296.44h,90.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DWY9aImrWPn2V_J0xYXx57Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D87.37925%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)
That looks kind of funny and it looks a little scary too. There's like no metal or concrete at the bottom, so what type of design is that bridge? I've never in my life seen bridges like those

Bridgereports (http://bridgereports.com/1434031) and my common sense say it's a "concrete slab" bridge, probably a voided slab bridge with Sonotubes (like giant paper towel rolls) cast in the concrete to save a bit of weight. This isn't that different from the podium slabs in the apartment buildings I work on: the bridge carries cars and trucks, while the podium slabs carry several floors of wood-framed apartment buildings.

Quote(Well I did, but it's rare, I saw a few around the Balt-Wash Parkway like these)!

Like this (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1140164,-76.7780847,3a,75y,40.12h,100.73t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sx36GhEMbK2eHczN9Zp14tw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dx36GhEMbK2eHczN9Zp14tw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D134.92361%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).

That one in Maryland (http://bridgereports.com/1239926) is likely a post-tensioned box beam, somewhat similar in appearance but much deeper, and very different structurally.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 08:34:21 AM
Virginia also has some fairly unique ones along I-395, unique mainly in guardrail design. This Street View image from Duke Street gives a good indication, though most of these have only one rail instead of the two seen here (the Edsall Road interchange just to the south uses a similar design with just one rail). Also, for the longest time the railings at these particular interchanges have generally appeared to be green rather than the rusty color seen here. The long flyover to the right used to have a similar style with one rail until it was rehabbed within the past 10 years (historic Street View lets you see the older guardrail on that ramp in the 2008 imagery if you explore the area).

https://goo.gl/maps/YdX76pfmVstETPr76

Here's an example of the green guardrails seen at Turkeycock, just to the south of the interchange seen above: https://goo.gl/maps/bcJU17i7WsWy6sRV6
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Beltway on February 26, 2020, 09:05:50 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 08:34:21 AM
Virginia also has some fairly unique ones along I-395, unique mainly in guardrail design. This Street View image from Duke Street gives a good indication, though most of these have only one rail instead of the two seen here (the Edsall Road interchange just to the south uses a similar design with just one rail). Also, for the longest time the railings at these particular interchanges have generally appeared to be green rather than the rusty color seen here. The long flyover to the right used to have a similar style with one rail until it was rehabbed within the past 10 years (historic Street View lets you see the older guardrail on that ramp in the 2008 imagery if you explore the area).  https://goo.gl/maps/YdX76pfmVstETPr76
Mid-1960s design and part of the Shirley Highway reconstruction.

This was at a point when there were very few urban freeways in the state, and a wide sidewalk was needed on the bridge.  So perhaps they were still not settled on how to design the parapets.

Quote from: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 08:34:21 AM
Here's an example of the green guardrails seen at Turkeycock, just to the south of the interchange seen above: https://goo.gl/maps/bcJU17i7WsWy6sRV6
That is on the top of a retaining wall, not a bridge.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 09:33:38 AM
Quote from: Beltway on February 26, 2020, 09:05:50 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 08:34:21 AM
Here's an example of the green guardrails seen at Turkeycock, just to the south of the interchange seen above: https://goo.gl/maps/bcJU17i7WsWy6sRV6
That is on the top of a retaining wall, not a bridge.


Correct, but the same style continues around the curve ahead over the bridge (as is easily discernable if you "drive" ahead in the Street View). I simply preferred that location as a better look at the design.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Beltway on February 26, 2020, 10:26:41 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 09:33:38 AM
Quote from: Beltway on February 26, 2020, 09:05:50 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 26, 2020, 08:34:21 AM
Here's an example of the green guardrails seen at Turkeycock, just to the south of the interchange seen above: https://goo.gl/maps/bcJU17i7WsWy6sRV6
That is on the top of a retaining wall, not a bridge.
Correct, but the same style continues around the curve ahead over the bridge (as is easily discernable if you "drive" ahead in the Street View). I simply preferred that location as a better look at the design.

Bridge parapets are commonly used on the top of a retaining wall that supports a roadway, even when no bridge is involved on that section of roadway.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thefraze_1020 on February 29, 2020, 08:43:03 PM
Washington State:

In 1955, the year before the Interstate Highway Act was signed, a lot of freeways were built in Washington. Some examples include US 10/ I-90 east of downtown Spokane to Spokane Valley, US 99 / I-5 through Burlington and Mount Vernon, US 99/ I-5 through Olympia, US 99/ I-5 from Tumwater to the Cowlitz County line between Chehalis and Castle Rock, and US 99/ I-5 through Vancouver. 1955 was the last year that Washington used a bridge design (superstructure and guardrail) that had been the standard since 1941. One of the best remaining examples on an Interstate is on I-5 at WA-505 near Winlock. https://www.google.com/maps/@46.4754019,-122.8831601,3a,63.7y,351.58h,97.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5d48VAKjPAwWjwhcL8bAhA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

1956 and 1957 are very ambiguous, because almost every bridge in the state on Interstates has had the guardrails replaced. One of last examples left (and it is being replaced), is on I-5 at Thorne Lane near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.1268569,-122.542677,3a,35.8y,52.44h,90.54t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVoK5mJnsmzAkhdus8No50g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DVoK5mJnsmzAkhdus8No50g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D158.83986%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

1958 was the first year of a totally new guardrail design, which remained the standard through 1962. Also, the earlier concrete tee beam superstructure was replaced by more conventional girders. Here is an example of this style, using a single round post. This example is on I-90 just east of Ritzville.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.1625881,-118.2999853,3a,75y,111.52h,96.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgjPlPSUzZDK2mLVLp8gtiQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0
The next exit east of that spot on I-90 is an example of the more conventional style with three round posts at each pier.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.2108085,-118.2265982,3a,75y,39.92h,86.49t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sGMqXaqIxJnbdYyl3tBMJBg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DGMqXaqIxJnbdYyl3tBMJBg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D162.87827%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en&authuser=0

1963 saw a revision of the guardrail style, mainly the ends were simplified with no concrete. This design was used in '64 as well.
The Cook Road overpass on I-5 just north of Burlington is an example of this type (built 1964), but it is a slab design underneath, which was less common.
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.5078583,-122.339567,3a,75y,135.69h,95.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp6HxXt8CdfuFD2WZEc0byA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

Just north of this, at Bow Hill Road, is a more conventional example of this style guardrail, with girders underneath.
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.5573225,-122.3496493,3a,75y,352.67h,97.75t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slhVG6uByD1uixTQ7Tqp-8g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DlhVG6uByD1uixTQ7Tqp-8g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D247.54753%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

In 1965, the guardrail was once again simplified, but this time it became a single rail. This design was used through 1973, but a revision would happen in 1970 (more to follow). I would argue that this style of bridge is still the most common design in existence.

The E Selah Road interchange on I-82 has a slab example of the guardrail style used through 1969.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6470187,-120.5030082,3a,75y,322.49h,94.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0p4X68jVvBeKCGMhTaT3cg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

The US 12 interchange on I-82 in Yakima is a more conventional girder example.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6262439,-120.5070907,3a,75y,331.63h,99.68t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0BZfXnXSM20D_6U79Kn98g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D0BZfXnXSM20D_6U79Kn98g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D115.709465%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

In 1970, the guardrail was revised ever so slightly. Before 1970, the metal rail had butt ends, but 1970 through 73 had angled ends that mounted to the concrete. The I-90 bridges over Batum Road between Moses Lake and Ritzville are an example of this, however, this bridges are unique in that they have no piers.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.0862881,-118.8112008,3a,75y,356.73h,91.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sqmvZrEvTTqWWGpvQoq8CpQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DqmvZrEvTTqWWGpvQoq8CpQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D95.221756%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

1973 seems to be a transitional year, and I have seen few examples. The metal rail style was the same, but the concrete portion became an angled Jersey barrier. One of the few examples I have seen is I-5 over Gages Slough in Burlington.
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.4590849,-122.3414213,3a,75y,204.29h,78.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIjEp1AWsS6sBmwwrGdxx7A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

From 1974 until the late 80's, the guardrail became a simple Jersey barrier, with no metal rail. I-90 at WA-202 in North Bend is an example, but this one is unique underneath.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.4882973,-121.7964813,3a,75y,0.43h,101.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAS8oWLJ0_7P8Ds9RvfrjAA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

About two miles east is another variation (very few examples of this superstructure design exist to my knowledge):
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.473644,-121.7580366,3a,75y,199.86h,91.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2I31iug5jGoaIfSFyoi3qw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

I-90 at High Point Way just east of Issaquah is a more conventional example, but with no piers.
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.531769,-121.9800773,3a,63.5y,163.38h,93.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srwyJ00XAr8wC3sOfLUEqpA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

I-5 at Old Hwy 99 S in South Mount Vernon is an example with one round pier:
https://www.google.com/maps/@48.3823818,-122.3331078,3a,75y,355.8h,101.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLDGpo4m3A0QYBJOOdUR9lg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

I-82 at W Sunnyside Road in Sunnyside is a slab example with a single angular pier:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.3262432,-120.078691,3a,75y,63.86h,91.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8QvgimqDPjzjtmAryBvk3w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

Yakima Valley Highway over I-82 on the east side of Zillah is another single pier style:
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.3921677,-120.240606,3a,75y,222.75h,87.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sawN4p8pEtz4K6JVC8OhQXw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0

The late 80's saw a metal rail mounted to the concrete barrier. This was has been used since then, but over the years, it has been used more sporadically, as after 2000 or so, WSDOT started building more custom bridges.

220th Street over I-5 in Mountlake Terrace is an example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7991701,-122.3144112,3a,75y,339.28h,96.82t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNOYiwpiz8Ma7q064ON52xg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DNOYiwpiz8Ma7q064ON52xg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D70.769966%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&authuser=0
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on April 05, 2020, 09:12:01 PM
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on February 29, 2020, 08:43:03 PM
Washington State:

I thoroughly enjoyed that. Thanks!
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on April 12, 2020, 08:11:29 AM
Quote from: noelbotevera on November 28, 2019, 11:16:26 PM
I'm sure Beltway has more knowledge on this, since it seems he's worked for PennDOT, but I'll give this a shot. Also note that I'll try to cover how PA's bridge designs have evolved, but it won't be perfect.

1940:
The PA Turnpike, being the first freeway in Pennsylvania, wrote its own book on building bridges. It seems the Turnpike would keep this style throughout its construction and expansion into the '50s. Copped this from exploringpahistory.com - has a postcard of the Turnpike that seems to be dated sometime around its opening.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fexplorepahistory.com%2Fkora%2Ffiles%2F1%2F2%2F1-2-5A4-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0b9p2-a_349.jpg&hash=bd57d97dcb4878f83db7d81fd553b75edf4dd75d)

1953:
While the Interstate system was being fleshed out, PA took the initiative to upgrade a few of its US Routes into freeways. Some Interstates were grandfathered into this primitive freeway system, such as I-83 around Harrisburg and I-78 in the area of Exits 13-17. This particular example (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6802322,-75.3297043,3a,75y,68.27h,95.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRrrPCort3XVkahtOUwfWUQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.00046%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) comes from the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which was going to be I-78. Other bridges along US 22 have a different style, but seem to date from the early '50s. PADOH (Department of Highways, basically PennDOT before 1970) seems to have copied the Pennsylvania Turnpike's bridge design along this stretch, with few - if any - modifications.

The Lehigh Valley Throughway bridge in your link is a through plate girder bridge, undoubtedly selected to minimize the required vertical distance between the roadways. It's a bit surprising to me that this type of bridge is as rare as it is, though there's at least one more on this same highway. I'd bet that, when those bridges are replaced, it'll be with new structures of similar design. It'd be either that or raising the overpassing roadway several feet.

As you said, this PA Turnpike-style single arch (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.682974,-75.2795469,3a,15y,82.3h,91.78t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snAZxAF-qhT6kY-8WIaqKWw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DnAZxAF-qhT6kY-8WIaqKWw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D175.52878%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) appears to have been more standard here, though there are also some surviving original plate girder bridges with metal guardrails.

Further west on the I-78 portion of the LVT, most of the bridges have been replaced, but there's this handsome variation on the shallow arched PA Turnpike bridges (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5568354,-75.9984224,3a,85.3y,54.69h,99.18t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7VSc6yfYaDi3rQcnNFRM3Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7VSc6yfYaDi3rQcnNFRM3Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D296.59692%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)... wait! It's a scam! The concrete arches are a facade concealing the plate girder structure (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5569044,-75.9982439,3a,41.1y,96.37h,96.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swK84DNKglT8uQ-NJid9zmA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)!  :clap:  PADOH must've been really devoted to that PA Turnpike aesthetic! http://bridgereports.com/1457419

EDIT: Resisting the temptation to scour the state, there are a few of the original bridges left on I-83. This one at PA 238 (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0201727,-76.7425548,3a,47.4y,337.92h,94.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQTwZQw5cI-qqvJpN9R37lQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) appears unmodified except for having its parapet replaced by a Jersey barrier. A bit north is this one at Sheep Bridge Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.1193898,-76.7883338,3a,75y,323.76h,103.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMMMUOgQ7_XIX_vgiPR19yg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). According to http://bridgereports.com/1476492, it was built in 1959 and reconstructed in 1999. Obviously, the bents were capped to raise the superstructure, and it seems likely that the superstructure was either replaced or drastically rebuilt. It still retains the unimpressive appearance of the original structure, though.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: rte66man on July 14, 2020, 02:18:40 PM
Typical early 70's OK bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1430713,-95.9752013,3a,75y,260.13h,85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHtZB8l4CRC6DumfL79qxkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Typical late 60's OK bridge:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1424557,-95.9582435,3a,75y,7.28h,74.93t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szO3J41bdSC2qotXPIyNZWA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DzO3J41bdSC2qotXPIyNZWA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D34.38818%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1

Mid 50's in Tulsa:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0886604,-96.0295548,3a,75y,354.03h,100.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shwaGL0xDui-BhoZ35s6dhA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Scary 1950 bridge on the Turner Turnpike:
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6810245,-97.0466818,3a,75y,290.59h,72.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAMbJHq-NDESUR1dZN4N6Eg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: MCRoads on July 20, 2020, 04:27:14 PM
Quote from: rte66man on July 14, 2020, 02:18:40 PM
Scary 1950 bridge on the TUrner Turnpike:
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6810245,-97.0466818,3a,75y,290.59h,72.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAMbJHq-NDESUR1dZN4N6Eg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

It looks pretty dated, but I think it looks really cool. The road is narrow enough that it looks like they just made a very wide bridge perpendicular to the road, and put a skewed deck on it. You know of any more bridges like that?
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: rte66man on July 25, 2020, 02:37:52 PM
Quote from: MCRoads on July 20, 2020, 04:27:14 PM
Quote from: rte66man on July 14, 2020, 02:18:40 PM
Scary 1950 bridge on the Turner Turnpike:
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6810245,-97.0466818,3a,75y,290.59h,72.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAMbJHq-NDESUR1dZN4N6Eg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

It looks pretty dated, but I think it looks really cool. The road is narrow enough that it looks like they just made a very wide bridge perpendicular to the road, and put a skewed deck on it. You know of any more bridges like that?

Similar but newer and wide. OK66/I44 westbound at the eastern end of the Turner Turnpike:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0746259,-96.054766,3a,75y,238.53h,92.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s82SKp1qM9bbQAlbBnIOjGw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on September 03, 2020, 09:24:01 PM
Rhode Island: I was pleasantly surprised to find this handsome shallow concrete arch design (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6610864,-71.5274304,3a,75y,223.9h,96.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRYvIsmLga4AMIY_scBz_YQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) with a rakish, canted-in open concrete guardrail.  I guess that this lunky thing (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4855565,-71.7332999,3a,42.6y,72.21h,96.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2Ru_WKmIIky8Fag0xcjZHQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) is its plate girder counterpart.

From 1951, this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8135538,-71.4398789,3a,52.7y,345.06h,95.66t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sL3akqUg1XbAE72XxyE2s0g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DL3akqUg1XbAE72XxyE2s0g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D312.62354%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), probably now demolished, deserves a shoutout. The guardrail posts are evenly spaced and so are those lunks is the parapet (what even are they?), but they're on different intervals, out of phase with each other. WTF?
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on November 08, 2020, 07:25:27 AM
I was pleasantly surprised by South Dakota.

This is 477th Avenue over I-29 (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6676949,-96.6647439,3a,74.3y,287.16h,93.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBflzx7_Bqs3gSPzEweJRUQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DBflzx7_Bqs3gSPzEweJRUQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D307.9759%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), 1960. A graceful box beam that reminds me of the ones on I-70 in Kansas, except that the original guardrail has been replaced with Jersey barriers. http://bridgereports.com/1495355

Not far away is 472nd Avenue and 319th Street over I-29 (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7210492,-96.7073009,3a,75y,309.67h,98.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sokJ9469u6RVdX2sgih5uEQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), also 1960. Concrete slab, also Kansas-looking, also very nice. Belongs in my mental Hall of Fame of Extremely Economical Early Interstate Bridges. http://bridgereports.com/1495283

Both this and the box beam in the previous entry are located on a section of I-29 that cuts diagonally across the grid of surface roads. The box beam or the plate girders we'll see later are used where the lesser road crosses on a severe skew, necessitating longer spans. These concrete slab structures are used only where the lesser road is perpendicular to the freeway and lesser span lengths are adequate.

Closeup of a similar structure, also from 1960, at the other end of the state: 161st Avenue over I-90 at New Underwood (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.103662,-102.7691159,3a,48.7y,154.22h,89.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDFmz3Vudatdh6EsfMBZh6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). The column heads are shallow pyramids, which I find elegant, and the lighting in this shot highlights them spectacularly. http://bridgereports.com/1494354

To my delight, the same design is used for bridges carrying the freeway, too. This is I-90 over 173rd Avenue at Wicksville (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.1030881,-102.5884885,3a,75y,346.77h,88.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJXfNOij2fc-rVXOqhiMkjg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), also 1960. http://bridgereports.com/1494378

Back east at 278th Street over I-29 near Worthing (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.3590515,-96.7962009,3a,41.4y,359.33h,95.58t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sm6YyfRbSLBX6u87M0re7yg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dm6YyfRbSLBX6u87M0re7yg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D83.62861%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) is this hard-worn example from 1958. It bears the original channel-style guardrail, and a bolted-on steel plate covers an edge that's been hit by a vehicle. The clearance is only 13'-1"! http://bridgereports.com/1492949

I'm gilding the lily quite a bit: on this early section of I-29 we've been looking at, the interesting concrete bridges we've seen so far are roughly equal in number to these extremely prosaic plate girder structures. This one's at 306th Street over I-29 at Nora (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9532961,-96.7947313,3a,75y,354.56h,93.04t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1senDCGD1tDXVK7RU4kpJGsw!2e0!5s20180501T000000!7i13312!8i6656), also from 1960. It's interesting that they were building both types of bridges at the same time on basically the same section of highway. http://bridgereports.com/1495262

In fact, this type of bridge is dominant across the state, with various minor design tweaks applied over the coming years. And all the plate girder bridges are painted green except a few new ones in Sioux Falls.

These ubiquitous concrete slab bridges (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8357411,-101.6612509,3a,75y,0.59h,90.78t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssvv5py5pZkdZ6XlTE4lWkQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dsvv5py5pZkdZ6XlTE4lWkQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D17.352013%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) carry Interstates over lesser roads and small watercourses. This is I-90 over SD 73 seven miles west of Kadoka, 1967, though it could be almost anywhere in the state. http://bridgereports.com/1492516

I-90 over Black Hills National Cemetery Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3709889,-103.4733162,3a,75y,38.99h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_ZCiq-O3JVEKy3OibXZjGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) near Sturgis, 1963. A less-common variation on the concrete slab design with an arch-beveled thickened drop panel instead of the integral beam/bent cap we saw earlier.  http://bridgereports.com/1493366

Eighteenth Street over I-229 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5365073,-96.6938136,3a,75y,329.91h,102.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7YClH9PdlLpneHatbYT78Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7YClH9PdlLpneHatbYT78Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D135.46811%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), concrete slab, 1959. One of the few remaining original bridges over I-229. I think it qualifies as a standard design in the state's one urban area. http://bridgereports.com/1493888

I-229 over SD 115/Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.509802,-96.7311089,3a,48.4y,356.92h,97.84t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbgFHdXpiHTeYKdCmCSDjAA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DbgFHdXpiHTeYKdCmCSDjAA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D30.895119%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192). I didn't pay that much attention, but I think this is farly standard for cases where the freeway crosses the lesser road on a sizable skew.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on November 22, 2020, 07:29:41 PM
North Dakota:

97th Avenue over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8923573,-98.4183322,3a,90y,82.72h,90.32t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0aEMVW8vhVTsNfyCl4C5rQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), 1957 (http://bridgereports.com/1344118). It's a spare-looking uniform depth tee beam; the original typical galvanized metal guardrail has been replaced with a Jersey barrier.

CO 11 over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.9066409,-98.2281433,3a,66.1y,79.71h,95.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1ssTlXlV--7l6ABtPxfs3yEw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DsTlXlV--7l6ABtPxfs3yEw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D215.69109%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1344126). It's a precast beam structure with an unusual bent design, and its metal guardrail has been replaced, too. Probably doesn't belong on this list.

104th Avenue over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.9067815,-98.2704273,3a,45.6y,74.77h,94.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s24UUGocjrMxJWrjeTJdpKg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D24UUGocjrMxJWrjeTJdpKg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D173.6304%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1344124). Same bent design but with the original galvanized metal guardrail.

Unknown road over I-94 at Crystal Springs (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8796553,-99.4774484,3a,90y,76.02h,98.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saZo-hhjAvFDqGxxBCsA9yg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), can't find a date. This one, with the unusual bent cap shape, is probably the most common early Interstate bridge. The galvanized guardrail looks like it has only one horizontal tube, but there are two, one being so low that the deck overhang obscures it.

Why is the overhang so big?  :hmmm:

The plot thickens: This is 20th Avenue over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8644497,-100.0355977,3a,90y,79.73h,96.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK9oy3K1eYz1Y85L6eJcNxg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1344059). It has a Florida-looking open concrete guardrail plus, behind it, the two-tube galvanized metal guardrail I've referred to in previous entries. I surmise, without researching it to death, that the open concrete guardrail was standard early on, but has proven unsatisfactory and has been removed in most but not all cases. That explains why the metal rail is set so far back from the deck edge.

353rd Street over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8567506,-100.2252969,3a,90y,66.38h,83.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7MepmIZ9szpMMRubvjKZtg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1344055). This one's a plate girder bridge with T-shaped bents  :clap: and, again, both the open concrete and galvanized metal guardrails.

There are numerous plate girder bridges with the two-column bents that are too boring to show you.  :wave: EDIT: Here's one (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8714974,-102.3076565,3a,90y,82.73h,99.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sBxiUvlm1zGFBWnqN4B77IQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). These might actually be the most common type after all.

I'm looking for the box beam version I saw somewhere...  EDIT: No, not a box beam. 74th Avenue over I-94 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8922578,-98.9085729,3a,66y,77.09h,95.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4EZyXoL0DvG7ZuSHhP5mSQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D4EZyXoL0DvG7ZuSHhP5mSQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D165.49612%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1344093) is a tee beam structure with integral columns that make it look like a box beam from a distance.

EDIT: After researching some other western states, I realized that I hadn't given due consideration to bridges carrying the Interstates over lesser roads. My efforts to correct my oversight rewarded me with  this specimen (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8843724,-99.2368977,3a,81.1y,7.21h,94.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_8BTaJR3VIs0ak78jZBC_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1344083). It looks like a concrete slab, but it's actually a shallow tee beam, and its bents are rows of cylindrical piles! Then there's this thing of beauty (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.9106799,-98.0099081,3a,59.5y,336.17h,93.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNmpJRqOaWxuElvGXR7YbbA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), also from 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1344139), that really is a concrete slab and has its cylindrical piles painted baby blue.

Off topic, but... later on, the simpler designs were superseded by deeper tee beams, like this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.937155,-103.8919725,3a,51.9y,175.85h,87.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spiYowIwCQVF1XuVDcDFB3g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1968 (http://bridgereports.com/1343896).

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: davewiecking on December 02, 2020, 11:15:32 PM
This is the rail design I think of when pondering original interstate bridges in Maryland.
https://goo.gl/maps/3vyEu19B8yZVmif47

As far as the substructure, straight columns joined by a cap, with steel girders on top. Columns in the middle and both shoulders, with a bridge section spanning nothing but the up-slope.
https://goo.gl/maps/5QEWy3ZWHHbwHuU56

I recall that MD had 4 approved paint colors, depending on what drivers might see in the background. Not-quite forest green, sky blue, brown and grey (used only in the western parts of the state).
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: roadman65 on December 03, 2020, 10:06:06 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 30, 2019, 12:56:20 PM
NJ has been quite consistent in their Interstate bridge design, with today's structures basically mirroring what was done back in the 1960's.  There's a few inconsistences, but that was true even back 70 years ago.





One of the more unique features of a small number of overpasses is the capless pier design, such as https://goo.gl/maps/T6U23PEzKaqYBE6d9 and https://goo.gl/maps/ve31QE9o3MmwenK27 .  And I-195 was built with a trapezoid pier design, unlike most everywhere else within the state ( https://goo.gl/maps/DJG6eUgefzJxAaAD7 ).  But otherwise, NJ consistently used a very basic pier and cap design, with steel or concrete I-beams, for the grand majority of their overpasses.  When a new or full replacement is required, it rarely deviates from this original design.




I-78 had one that differed too from typical NJ design also. From Watchung to Bedminster they used the same design as Route 47 over I-295.

The Parkway and Turnpikes has their own also. However since widening of the freeway the NJTA for the former has used more typical NJDOT designs.


Then other states have been going nostalgic besides NJ as here in Maryland Heights, MO.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/50651509561/in/photostream/
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: roadman65 on December 13, 2020, 09:12:20 AM
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50655709203_b4598dda10_k_d.jpg)Kentucky used these at one time.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 13, 2020, 09:22:54 AM
Wyoming is truly fascinating, for those who are into such things. Most other states have a standard or near-standard Interstate median width of sixtyish feet. Not Wyoming, though. Most Wyoming Interstates have medians of either 36-44 feet or... 125 feet! The upshot of this is that the overwhelming majority of grade separations on Interstates have the freeway passing over the lesser road, presumably because of the expense of bridging over such a wide median. Or maybe I have it backward: maybe the ultra-wide typical medians are the might-as-well product of the decision to take the freeway over the lesser road. Anyway, another upshot is that the number of bridges in the class that this thread is about is rather small, apparently small enough that they were designed on a small-batch basis rather than being churned out by the score to a few typical designs as in most other states.

The freeway-carrying bridges are almost invariably simple concrete slab structures of which this structure on I-25 near Slater (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9042336,-104.9162431,3a,20.9y,246.89h,78.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbf5qSj5Ap9gz40bkCXLg-w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dbf5qSj5Ap9gz40bkCXLg-w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D299.74268%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1618736), is an early example. The rather dainty-looking metal guardrail neatly integrated with the ground-mounted box beam guiderails is ubiquitous in Wyoming. I wouldn't have expected such similarity between New York and Wyoming, but here we are. Actually, I think that Wyoming is even more committed to this type of thing than New York is, probably to minimalize snow accumulation. These bridges have full-width shoulders, too, despite their early construction date and their remote location. That's gotta help with snow, too.

That particular structure has round concrete columns, a bent cap, and a slightly-thicker slab near the bents. However, there are several variations throughout the state. This one on I-90 at exit 178 (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3296841,-104.4936712,3a,46.1y,335.17h,89.87t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVQdcpuTy_BN9yi3OxSPdHg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), from 1960-63 best I can tell, uses round steel piles instead of concrete columns. I think that this one at on I-90 near Carpenter (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1571656,-104.3494544,3a,48.7y,359.21h,93.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRZddJJug7sQmDQBOGxsxMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DRZddJJug7sQmDQBOGxsxMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D169.30972%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) is my favorite, with concrete columns, a flat slab, no bent cap, and no edge treatment, not even a reveal. It's from 1965. This one on I-80 at exit 238 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7426186,-106.7738518,3a,23.7y,334.35h,91.83t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYcrl3xdaHzEihBE1FQGyUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built around 1969, has steel H piles and shallow tee beams instead of a flat slab. I'm wondering now if the tee beams were an evolutionary development, replacing the flat slabs. I'm too lazy to track it down, and it'd be off topic for this thread, anyway. Since I mentioned it, though, I'll give a shoutout to this guy on I-25 at Chugwater (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.756966,-104.831677,3a,75y,266.12h,98.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDBiSMIjR07u_Lu57lNedtA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), from 1968. It's a full monte tee beam structure, built at a time when other agencies had generally gone to plate girders, precast beams, or box beams (Wyoming uses plate girders, too, but they're not as interesting).

Back on topic: This prosaic plate girder structure on I-25 near Slater (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.871132,-104.8750937,3a,75y,318.97h,92.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9w1__eCFBM77nO-apkR8Kg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1958, is  the kind of thing I would've expected to find throughout Wyoming's early Interstates. Note the steel channel guardrail. Just to the north is this one (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8832923,-104.8830302,3a,29.5y,335.72h,88.55t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWonjmqCrar2oocJ-pepqYg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DWonjmqCrar2oocJ-pepqYg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D89.39168%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) with a two-tier steel channel guardrail  that I haven't seen anywhere else, in Wyoming or elsewhere. I'd like a closer look, but the Streetview quality on top is poor. On both of these, the haunches look tacked on, as though they were an afterthought, and there are haunches at the abutments, which is rare. Hmm...

Now, the good stuff. Yes, Wyoming built its share of handsome tee beam bridges in the pre- and early Interstate era, and many of them are still around. This one carrying Country Club Drive over I-25 in Cheyenne (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1596584,-104.8391539,3a,49.3y,161.08h,99.69t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sA22juEjSbYb_avB7lXf1rw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) was built in 1957. Note the unusual four-tier metal guardrail. A few miles south is this one carrying I-25 over Missile Drive (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.13674,-104.8400684,3a,39.4y,291.15h,91.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sXSEDFMNVe8_PxRaGDDRLeg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), also from 1957. I wonder if the light metal guardrail is original equipment. There also this one-off very skewed tee beam structure (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2330741,-104.8375274,3a,75y,231.49h,91.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbpDkRHUMJOevWOFj7QYSHA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) for northbound I-25 over southbound US 85 where the two part ways for good. And, this near-repeat of the Country Club Drive bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2909384,-105.5290137,3a,66.8y,72.81h,96.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sT0bb80L9nmcRcMYYeRq5pw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built five years later in 1962, at the east end if Laramie's I-80 bypass. It uses an unusual pedestrian-friendly three-tier guardrail even though the interchange it's in is a trumpet designed for free-flowing traffic, and there's no sidewalk. One of those little mysteries.

Finally, while it's neither original Interstate nor standard, I feel like I have to mention this Missouri-esque ultra-economical flat slab structure on I-25 near Wheatland (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0896105,-104.9815313,3a,52.4y,147.53h,94.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sfX9RtxTMplKOsGARFkEg0A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1966. With its W beam guardrails tacked onto the sides ala Texas at its chintziest, this is the type of thing that I feared would dominate the state. Happily, though, this is the only example I found, which makes it an adorable unicorn.

And, speaking of off-topic unicorns, I must also mention the three-level stack interchange at I-25 and US 26 north of Wheatland (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.231287,-105.0223926,3a,72.1y,229.66h,97.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stJ5ETWF-f021RGZFbaFxYw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), also from 1966. When I posted about it on Facebook (the Road Enthusiasts group, if you're interested), there was some consternation over the use of a design with left-hand entrances and exits, but its merit as an exercise in structural engineering and highway agency policymaking is undeniable. There's another three-level stack at I-25 and I-90 (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3711577,-106.6890408,3a,75y,18.47h,92.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOtiXEXbtBMGfISGIUVcfrg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), but it's more conventional (i.e, heftier) in design. Despite its being built in 1964, it looks rather futuristic to me, probably because it resembles typical California box beams, but they didn't start using light metal guardrails like Wyoming's until the seventies, AFAIK.









Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thefraze_1020 on December 14, 2020, 12:47:40 PM
That was fascinating! Thanks for that!
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 14, 2020, 09:10:18 PM
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on December 14, 2020, 12:47:40 PM
That was fascinating! Thanks for that!

My pleasure. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed your post about Washington!  :clap:
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: thefraze_1020 on December 15, 2020, 06:58:43 PM
Quote from: Tom958 on December 14, 2020, 09:10:18 PM
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on December 14, 2020, 12:47:40 PM
That was fascinating! Thanks for that!

My pleasure. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed your post about Washington!  :clap:

Touche!
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 17, 2020, 06:30:36 PM
Montana: more tales of the unexpected, at least for me. Like Wyoming, it seems to have a pretty high proportion of 36-44 foot medians, though there are a few of great width as well as numerous mountain stretches with minimal, Jersey barrier medians. Also like Wyoming, the Interstates pass over lesser roadways rather than under to an unusual degree, at least on the older Interstates.

I'm gonna start before the beginning with this handsome tee beam bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5684491,-107.4520079,3a,21.6y,234.67h,83.08t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5MH4cxK9nAw5OW1OYUtFRw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D5MH4cxK9nAw5OW1OYUtFRw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D138.14108%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) on I-90 over the Little Bighorn River just south of US 212, built in 1956 (http://bridgereports.com/1315337) for US 87 and now the eastbound roadway of I-90. The metal banister guardrail is typical for the era, believe it or not. It's been augmented in this case by bolted-on W beam guardrail, though, as you'll see, thrie beams and cast-in-place parapets are used elsewhere. There's also this tee beam bridge on I-115 in Butte (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.0032138,-112.5505866,3a,24.5y,38.7h,95.37t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sLesmm6I4TSXkH_c2ncRQWQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DLesmm6I4TSXkH_c2ncRQWQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D194.46817%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1957, with the same guardrail. Surprisingly, though, that's about it for tee beem freeway bridges in Montana because...

At the beginning of the Interstate era, precast concrete beams a la today's AASHTO beams pretty much took over in Montana. They're every bit as prevalent in Montana as they are in Florida! This bridge carrying I-15-90 over Harrison Avenue in Butte (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.9839945,-112.5080118,3a,49.4y,354.11h,101.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLBIhJkaCNmrvOe1JlfJJdA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1960, is a good example. Note the distinctively-shaped bents as well as the insane guardrail. A bit further to the west is I-19-90 over S. Montana Street (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.9924824,-112.5390261,3a,75y,92.18h,100.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZp_h9vuy3veuiviE_9jRGA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1961, modified in 2004. Note that the main spans are plate girders, but the side spans are precast. The westbound bridge retains the original guardrail augmented with W beams, but the eastbound has concrete parapets instead, with two different edge conditions.  I dunno, either. The parapets are vertical and flush with the former "safety walk" (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.992424,-112.5388529,3a,49.2y,311.94h,53.73t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4OUTJJNB_dWYiMxt-IEYEw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), not Jersey barriers. Jersey barriers as bridge parapets are rare in Montana.

Out in the country, here's a randomly-chosen bridge carrying I-90 over Jens Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6054493,-113.0070262,3a,51y,11.58h,89.48t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svXnlL_MxYKgaK2yGNNAztQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1959. The parapets have been replaced more neatly than the ones in the previous entry. Then there's I-90 over Dunmore Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.6801248,-107.5042831,3a,22.8y,280.47h,80.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2hv6yvEXe3cUzxyiR-qtPA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D2hv6yvEXe3cUzxyiR-qtPA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D330.01822%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), also from 1959 (http://bridgereports.com/1315332), with thrie beams and... not the same slab edge condition. Wassup with that?

The interesting thing about those last two and many others like them is what you don't see: for whatever reason, the ultra-economical flat slab bridges found throughout the west are very scarce in Montana. The only ones I found were two sets on I-15 in Teton County (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.7411034,-111.666913,3a,42.2y,80.99h,93.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sq2hNQtrcx6C0RBA588pMiA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), and they weren't built until 1972 (http://bridgereports.com/1314900)! Wait: here's another set on I-15 near Great Falls (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.4521156,-111.4294368,3a,42.9y,341.04h,75.52t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdV-0Wx_LCMAHOwD8kBOaww!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DdV-0Wx_LCMAHOwD8kBOaww%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D145.84775%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192). It was built in 1969. So, still.

Sometime in the early sixties, the metal banister-style guardrail was superseded by a downright bizarre contraption of W beams and pipe rails, the most oh-hell-no guardrail system I've ever seen. In a double whammy, I'll present it to you c/o this epic straddle beam bridge carrying eastbound I-115 over westbound I-15-90 (https://www.google.com/maps/@46.0031353,-112.5688544,3a,75y,345.55h,98.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTG7tlp-1w_AA_sK6x71rrA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). Unsurprisingly for Montana, while the central spans and straddle bents are steel, the end spans are precast. Needless to say, that crazy guardrail design is used on more prosaic bridges throughout the state. This one in particular (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.9811631,-112.4874966,3a,75y,88.37h,96.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siXMZSJNIY72qteeQ5Op3vA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1967, caught my eye. For no obvious reason, it has one plate girder span while the rest are precast. WTF?

Also very much worthy of note is this strikingly un-Montanan pair of tee beam bridges on I-15 at Ulm (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.4335284,-111.5069368,3a,70y,346.21h,93.21t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sJhbbnH2u66UTSpXGQFpnJw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DJhbbnH2u66UTSpXGQFpnJw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D23.842896%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1962, and reminiscent of these bad boys in Mississippi, of all places (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3428784,-88.9880221,3a,19.5y,248.83h,90.64t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srVAVZLLJWeVuPdIzZ5cCPg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrVAVZLLJWeVuPdIzZ5cCPg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D115.68317%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656). Unfortunately, while Mississippi provided an attractive open concrete guardrail, Montana went with a veritable dog's breakfast (https://goo.gl/maps/3zXqHAyx22DB5pSU8). Note the double wooden blocking behind the W beam, which is deteriorating visibly. I surmise that they did it to bring the face of the W beam out to the face of the "safety walk" to combat the dread bounce effect.  Wait, though: the dog's breakfast guardrail is only on the northbound side. The southbound sports the tube steel-and-short-parapet design (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.434149,-111.5066455,3a,15.9y,211h,82.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEspZVuGjP_OBhTLnRlb4qw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) that became dominant I guess in the seventies. That's because I-15 here was originally built as a super two. The second roadway wasn't built until 1969 (http://bridgereports.com/1314885), making it all the more remarkable that the bridge was built to such an unusual design. I checked bridgereports.com across the entire state for an over-the-freeway bridge of this design, but I didn't find one.

I'll close this out with a unicorn, on I-90 over the Little Bighorn River.  This 1948 structure with a two-tiered open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5964896,-107.4615664,3a,49.9y,264.96h,82.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLVoRwO0VrEPDxT5GQ1zGFQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) was built in 1949 (http://bridgereports.com/1315335) for US 87 and now carries eastbound I-90. The northbound structure was built in 1959 and retains the metal banister guardrail on the outside.

Off topic, but since we've come this far, here's a typical bridge from the later Interstate era (https://www.google.com/maps/@47.3397685,-111.62463,3a,49y,38.13h,94.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sag6vJL1N0fXwVNO5upWLOQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), built in 1970 when that second roadway of I-15 was added. Precast beams, plenty of right side clearance, round columns with pill-shaped bent caps, and the tube steel-and-low parapet guardrail we saw earlier.















Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: on_wisconsin on December 17, 2020, 08:21:54 PM
Wisconsin Interstate bridges (late 50's - early 80's)

Typical steel superstructure designs:
Curved beam (Probably the most common from the era.)
https://goo.gl/maps/fu3ePjTtW7XV1EN3A
https://goo.gl/maps/74HzxRcdFdKrLEUn9
https://goo.gl/maps/ycrXJV1vUtcfvHxM6
https://goo.gl/maps/wKShfD1hrDbmRF3TA

Straight beam
https://goo.gl/maps/H85sWWsjeLUoS8xLA
https://goo.gl/maps/3vws7TQJKBp85Njc8

Concrete:
Cast-in-place
https://goo.gl/maps/nZZgQR2WCEtH8LFcA
https://goo.gl/maps/NDhLr4BLyTMfiQoR9

Beam
https://goo.gl/maps/tgyaAXKxkqb4Ss9F9
https://goo.gl/maps/FQjL7stmJtLTzvxx9
https://goo.gl/maps/5FWpMmDGVf12HKGG7
https://goo.gl/maps/onkoSvkCniLrRkTD7
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 19, 2020, 10:43:50 AM
Iowa. The first several are from Cass County in western Iowa, where most of I-80 was completed in 1958-59. I'm not at all familiar with the state and it's not interesting enough to research extensively, but I'm gonna assume that these are fairly representative. Corrections are welcome, of course.

670th Street over I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4972659,-94.9121632,3a,75y,94.54h,87.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIVrQ0fT0WvEgOy4h22PeiQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). Off to a strong start aesthetically with precast beams on distinctively-shaped T columns. This one lacks the prominent diaphragm at the bents seen on many of its counterparts. The guardrail looks like a Jersey barrier, but it's not, as you'll see. OT, but that bullnosed W beam guardrail in the median seems like a bad idea.

IA 148 over I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.497048,-94.7578907,3a,66.8y,246.84h,88.96t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK-qg9qdPKZfoOp-zhzLCBA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DK-qg9qdPKZfoOp-zhzLCBA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D31.190496%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192). Same basic design, though the diaphragms are more visible and the bridge has been raised a couple of feet or more.  Here, the original rather unconvincing two-tube metal guardrail was left in place, with a vertical concrete parapet added on the traffic side. Here's what it looks like from above (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4966624,-94.7581879,3a,80.1y,47.92h,46.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sv4LPYPuBMbsdkPfWwvR21w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dv4LPYPuBMbsdkPfWwvR21w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D110.2307%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).
 
Between those two is I-80 over 690th Street (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4970648,-94.868627,3a,41.4y,6.48h,87.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shw5_OeeqXNFjSdSwaDBzPA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). The bents are similar aesthetically to the T columns we've just seen, but they're slightly flared at the bottom, like the pants that'd become popular ten years later.  :love: That little flare must've been a pain to form, so points to Iowa for both effort and aesthetic results on this one.

Sadly, though, the gluteal distress got to be intolerable, resulting in this much more prosaic bent design with round columns and a pill-shaped cap (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.496707,-94.7243129,3a,60.9y,331.72h,68.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spsX-l0XClmzRZfIcvINr6Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). I find it unpleasantly surprising that the guardrails haven't been replaced, especially since the deck width is only 29.9 feet per http://bridgereports.com/1107387. At this point, they must be holding out for full replacement. At 10,000ish, the ADT isn't that high, but trucks are 39%.

Here's its over-the-freeway counterpart at 620th Street over I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4974375,-95.0032244,3a,31.5y,242.44h,97.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5i32UIr3zcrOXXXQUeinAg!2e0!5s20180501T000000!7i13312!8i6656). This bent cap is squared off and slightly beveled upwards at the ends rather than being pill-shaped, though both variants are in evidence nearby. Speaking of which, here's York Avenue of I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4931706,-94.2604639,3a,72.3y,266.55h,96.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJh83Go6-WQSRKL8kO76fZg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), in Adair County just to the east. As you can see, it has the pill-shaped bent caps, three columns instead of two and the original guardrail with no concrete parapet. It was built in 1959 and modified (raised, I suppose) in 1972 (http://bridgereports.com/1106973). I wondered if the T bents were used where the deck was narrower, but this one and the T column bridges are both 24 feet between curbs.

Further east in Dallas County, and a bit more interesting, is E Avenue over I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5068048,-94.2046215,3a,19.9y,33.59h,89.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sL9h3r6iPh3i9oZWS2sxPVQ!2e0!5s20110801T000000!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1960 (http://bridgereports.com/1107706). It's a reprise of the T bent design, but with steel plate girders instead of precast beams. I-80 has a median of 50 or maybe 52 feet through here. Where it runs due east-west and intersects the lesser roadways at ninety degrees, precast is used, but where there's a significant skew, they go to steel. Further east still is 347th Street over I-80 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5349085,-94.0353801,3a,75y,37.33h,83.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sjnf1DTqePStsbctXecbPhg!2e0!5s20150701T000000!7i13312!8i6656), with the original guardrail still in use, and painted green. it was built in 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1107713), so I guess the original designs persisted for quite some time. There are several other plate girder bridges between here and E Avenue, but this one with the original guardrail reminds me of my own state of Georgia. Georgia's metal guardrails are better looking, though.

The reason I surfed so far east was that I was trying to find a better shot of something like this concrete slab bridge in I-80 over 570th Street back in Cass County (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4981081,-95.0992422,3a,41y,122.5h,77.18t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snFaEln1p3qY5RLGnurBFRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). Unlike in more western states, these must be pretty scarce, and this one was built in 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1107364). Perhaps there are other early examples that I haven't found, or perhaps Iowa really didn't start building these until later on, as was apparently the case with Montana. There are other similarities between Iowa and Montana, too. Hmm...

Finally, and arguably off topic, here's the three-level interchange of I-80 and I-880/former I-680 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4969699,-95.5849814,3a,25.2y,95.57h,97.48t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1szbJT5YpS_4RPHQUnt7zhug!2e0!5s20140701T000000!7i13312!8i6656), built in 1966 (http://bridgereports.com/1109531). I was very surprised to find a concrete slab bridge at the middle of a three-level interchange between two Interstate highways, but here we are (I'll give a shoutout to the even more spectacular interchange of I-25 and US 26 in Wyoming, built at about the same time (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2313401,-105.0223212,3a,38.9y,225.55h,96.01t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slANm4JrrqKNN7zl0YU1kaA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DlANm4JrrqKNN7zl0YU1kaA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D63.364906%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)). Traffic volumes must be quite low, and the deck is only 23 feet curb to curb. Also, the clearance to the top-level bridge is only 14.4 feet. Not good. The steel plate girder bridge for westbound I-80 was modified in 1989 (http://bridgereports.com/1109532), presumably to add the shoulders and install Jersey barrier parapets on both sides.





Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: roadwaywiz95 on December 19, 2020, 09:36:21 PM
For this upcoming weekend's Webinar presentation, we'll be taking a look at the bridges that span the Hudson River, with the primary focus being on the Capital District and Hudson Valley regions of New York State. There are many interesting & historic structures to discuss and we will be dissecting their history and importance as only the folks of the AARoads Forum can! Coverage will begin on Sunday (12/20) at 6 PM ET and will feature live contributions from members of this forum; we hope to see you there!

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: cjk374 on December 20, 2020, 09:40:01 AM
Louisiana:

1959: the 3 oldest bridges over I-20 are all in Ruston. https://maps.app.goo.gl/iFGxcYfFUM4oe9Ka6


Early 60s model:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/8qpGr82ZQREtoAHK9

Then Louisiana ran out of money trying to build I-20. It would be almost 10 years before they started building I-20 between US 79/80 (near I-20 MP 41) to the Industrial Dr. exit in Bossier City (MP 23). You can definitely tell a difference of the decades with the bridge designs (and other things as well).

Early/mid 70s style: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZAEqKZhjjK8HHYjg9


And of course, 80s thru modern day:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/uNxXyYpDsEXCqhYv7
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on December 20, 2020, 09:43:36 AM
Kansas is somewhat similar to a few other states in that it settled on a few standard designs early on and stuck with them for what I'd say is an oppressively long time. That said,
the designs themselves are both more attractive and more interesting than those in, say, Kentucky or Alabama.

KS 23 over I-70 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1094544,-100.4795844,3a,30.7y,106.2h,90.87t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sfnHAJiz3obtR1i451DMerw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DfnHAJiz3obtR1i451DMerw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D84.077156%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), 1960 (http://bridgereports.com/1201810). An elegant cast-in-place concrete box beam with single round columns, an arch-portaled open concrete guardrail and Deco-looking curved endblocks. This one's in my personal pantheon of early Interstate bridges. Withough looking too hard, I found plenty of bridges of the same design (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.30167,-100.9615986,3a,90y,136.73h,92.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sSYiYhani7ocjNwrHj4p7Vw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) built in 1965, too (http://bridgereports.com/1204197).  The design is used indiscriminately regardless of intersection angle and resultant span length. It anything, the design is too ubiquitous, though the newer section includes a couple of these (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.363845,-101.0368961,3a,74.9y,99.17h,87.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJmlYn1qoFOtYkMpyIg4pvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), which appear to be identical except for having the same Kansas Corral guardrail as the freeway-carrying bridges of the era. That one was built in 1964 (http://bridgereports.com/1204192). From slightly earlier, in 1958 (http://bridgereports.com/1204208), there are some of these guys (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0231758,-100.0745215,3a,75y,68.62h,92.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssJ1C3W-9UdrRvcsdrXM5OA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), which appear to be identical except for having very slim twin round columns instead of the larger single ones. I found a twin column, Kansas Corral variant (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8491801,-98.2815004,3a,90y,76.55h,91.07t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sNd7nM_mFsJ2nwBCEXUj-pw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DNd7nM_mFsJ2nwBCEXUj-pw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D10.963765%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) from 1964 (http://bridgereports.com/1203914), too.

While they're rare, steel bridges do exist in Kansas. Here's one (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0581021,-96.1506095,3a,75y,85.17h,94.21t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6bLs_41GrN0WoE3uuDZ7sg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), with rather handsome lightly-haunched plate girders and Kansas Corral guardrails. It's from 1962 (http://bridgereports.com/1204254). Or so they say. Those bents look modern to me.  :no: And not far away is its AASHTO beam cousin (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0586885,-96.0398406,3a,75y,79.09h,89.63t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTbcuWHs2daZz54zL4Rqzhg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DTbcuWHs2daZz54zL4Rqzhg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D37.151833%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), from 2002 (http://bridgereports.com/1202131).  :clap: It's rather surprising that the end bents aren't any further from the roadway than they are.

Also from 1958 are numerous examples of these startlingly spare concrete slab structures with the hefty but short Kansas Corral open concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3645352,-101.0548435,3a,72.2y,352.83h,91.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sELaJe_-pb5d_9aeohvUD-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). All the Streetviews of the 1958 structures (http://bridgereports.com/1204224) are crappy, so I used a seemingly-identcal one from 1965 instead.

There are numerous culverts for very-minor roads. This is a scarce Streetview of one that I stumbled upon (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9650193,-97.0931609,3a,75y,356.36h,91.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1solIONHJIBnU-OJkDgFiMqA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).

Though they're actually pre- rather than early Interstate, I must give a shoutout to the bridges of the Kansas Turnpike, all from 1956. They're mostly plate girder versions (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1420136,-96.522766,3a,46.9y,72.17h,95.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sN5v-hnLrgXAf-TMlv8Kg7A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) of the box beams we're now familiar with. The capless bents are a distinctive feature, and they use that same iconic arch portal guardrail. Also, here's the Matfield cattle crossing (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1618129,-96.4840029,3a,75y,196.66h,95.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_s6ELnj_eG8OdG731pQpSg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), http://bridgereports.com/1716873. Wait: Here's another design, providing some welcome variety: sheer taper bents and a two-tube metal guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1238615,-96.5538738,3a,77.8y,46.79h,84.17t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sdQ7meLxz5jJncZS8ZYCrfg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DdQ7meLxz5jJncZS8ZYCrfg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D42.28005%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192). And, there are a couple of other bent designs for the standard bridge, including this sheer taper version (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6951417,-95.9929834,3a,75y,10.92h,92.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgkZ_u-Fs1KJGNrnwscjq-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). Finally for this report, there's this heavily-skewed bridge (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8868882,-95.8170948,3a,75y,79.17h,96.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_spcQlKgcyyVBgso6hCAVQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), obviously rebuilt recently despite what http://bridgereports.com/1206187 has to say about it. Many of the original bridges on the I-70 part of the Turnpike have been replaced, but fewer on the other sections.

Interestingly, the turnpike-carrying bridges are invariably hefty plate girder structures (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6518492,-96.0286306,3a,48.7y,89.8h,92.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHacWJrZaHGKXQ1VIwOE5gA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192), not the ultralight concrete slabs found throughout the early Interstates. KDOT obviously went through a major rethink on this.  :hmmm:

Off topic, but... as ubiquitous as those early box beam designs were, I found myself wondering what KDOT built in later years. Here's a California-looking box beam with a single tube and low concrete guardrail (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4621915,-95.5457335,3a,75y,70.44h,87.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s7bzNDyVHYDwTkY1O9gxcnQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D7bzNDyVHYDwTkY1O9gxcnQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D238.09125%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192) on I-35, built in 1973 (http://bridgereports.com/1202435). Where the skew angle is more severe, they went to this design with arched plate girders (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5182151,-95.4161508,3a,74y,64.48h,94.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svcvNrlHEpgHrK4ayMAHOZg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192). Oddly, the bridges over watercourses on this segment of I-35 are tee beams (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4843884,-95.4921512,3a,62.3y,340.61h,75.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sIqxqBI2TpNJGuuz0kNddNw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DIqxqBI2TpNJGuuz0kNddNw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D26.879229%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192), which require falsework (http://bridgereports.com/1202437). I'd expect to find this design used over roadways instead of the ubiquitous concrete slab design where the skew angle is severe, but I haven't found any such structure.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on February 07, 2021, 10:49:49 AM
Illinois is more diverse and interesting than I'd realized. For those who don't know, the subject of early Interstate bridges interests me enough that I've done a series of Streetview-illustrated posts at the Road Enthusiasts Facebook group. For Illinois, I examined all the rural Interstate segments that were open per the 1962 official state map and posted about three of them, the others being either redundant or the bridges being too prosaic in appearance. Both here and on Facebook, I've thus skewed my presentation toward making the subject look more interesting than it actually is. Sorry.

Perks Road over I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/ApjLqBud3qYQbjCT7), built in 1962 (http://bridgereports.com/1155717), is an example of what may be the most common type of early Interstate bridge in the state: a simple plate girder structure with fat T bents. It retains the original metal guardrail in addition to a second set of metal guardrail added later to augment the first and perhaps to eliminate the bounce effect of the original "safety walk." I consider the appearance to be pleasantly intricate, though some might consider it cluttered. While green is the usual color for these guys, they come in blue (https://goo.gl/maps/tfNyPqgiNYKiqNmK8), gray (https://goo.gl/maps/B3kapLq4nNpBcTrP6), and a good many recently painted brown (https://goo.gl/maps/fofrhMxpr9ttiTY36).

There's a less-common tee beam counterpart to that design, exemplified by Westminster Road over I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/ymJBkrF5CWqubhidA), built in 1959 (http://bridgereports.com/1161610). I was expecting to find a precast concrete version, too, similar to what Iowa built early on, but I never did. No, wait: Here's one. It's Beal Road over I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/A71spQTK73uoebwH6), built in 1967 (http://bridgereports.com/1146250). It features a handsome rounded parapet soffit, used on a variety of designs across the state, plus the single tube-concrete parapet guardrail that more or less took over the nation's highway bridges until the Jersey barrier took over. Even as subtle as the curve is,  it causes this design to remind me ever so slightly of the iconic curved-bottom bridges on I-280 between San Francisco and San Jose.

Before I get too far along, here's an end-on closeup of that style of guardrail. I don't know that I've ever seen a curved channel used in a guardrail before, though from a normal viewing angle it looks like a tube, so I may have seen it elsewhere and not realized it. This photo also shows bolted-on thrie beams rather than the steel tube guardrail I mentioned above augmenting the original rails.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbridgehunter.com%2Fphotos%2F23%2F28%2F232887-M.jpg&hash=504f3e4c33199f7afb16c1752e5f63ae9ba4b887)

The photo comes from the Bridgehunter entry about the Fairmount Lane bridge over I-55-70 (http://bridgehunter.com/il/madison/fairmount-lane/), one of the unicorniest structures on the entire Interstate system. Long may it stand. That said, it started its existence as a variation on the fat T tee beam I mentioned above, with a two-column bent to accommodate the skew angle it's on.  Actually, that two-column bent is fairly common, too, as on  I-70 near Effingham, which was open in 1962 (https://goo.gl/maps/h3qVLWe9cS8tXeAP6)

Changing gears completely, there are quite a few very prosaic precast beam bridges with round columns and rounded-end bent caps like you'd see in South Carolina rather than the iconic tapered columns that dominate Illinois. Here's one on 100 East Road over I-74 (https://goo.gl/maps/9QLuZuB31i12Qx3T9), built in 1959 (http://bridgereports.com/1159264), but there are quite a few on I-80 as well. This bent design is also used for plate girder bridges, which I find too unremarkable to list here but which seen to dominate several Interstate corridors.

Further east on I-74 are a couple of tee beam designs from 1962: one (https://goo.gl/maps/Ueu1YaG8zmeLz23NA), and another (https://goo.gl/maps/pjn5MJYf2Kyx7BFV9). Normally I'd appreciate the variety, but in this case, the bridges across the line in Indiana are also tee beams and are very similar in appearance.  :-/

Speaking of tee beams and variety, there are a couple of apparent one-off designs I've seen which add some variety, I'd like to think just for the joy of it. For example, this handsome tee beam structure carrying Grassy Road over I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/abNVzx8UqtrN9b7C6), built in 1959 and unfortunately in bad shape (http://bridgereports.com/1161606). Not far away is friendship School Road over I-57 (https://goo.gl/maps/Y3F23aRwQk5HKckc7), also built in 1959 (http://bridgereports.com/1159005), a plate girder bridge which crosses I-57 and its 110-foot median (!!!) with only three spans. Off topic, but I wish to mention that the early section of I-57 between Dongola and Marion is a surprisingly luxurious highway, with a variety of median widths and treatments in addition to the variety in bridge types. I think it'd be a welcome respite after 150 miles of brutal boredom on the way from Memphis to Chicago.

One more: In Champaign are several of these (https://goo.gl/maps/UDgnhxhLN5aAU1qh6): plate girder bridges with prosaic superstructures, but with bents that are so whimsical in shape that they're almost Googie. They were built in 1956 (http://bridgereports.com/1136627), which means that they were under construction before Ike signed the Interstate act.



Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on February 14, 2021, 10:52:41 AM
Idaho: In doing these things, I've learned to expect the unexpected, but Idaho is the first state where I took at least a cursory Google satellite look at the entire Interstate system. Why? Because I found something really interesting early on.

As you likely know by now, the earliest Interstate standards called for a forty-foot median, and accordingly many states started out with medians of about that width. Later on, sixty feet came into favor, and both sixty and 64 feet became prevalent in most states throughout the period of the most rapid expansion of the system in the 1960s. Idaho, however, decided on 75 feet as its standard, and the overwhelming majority of its Interstate medians are 75 feet or thereabouts, the major exception being, obviously, in mountainous areas, including most of I-90 (I've often wondered why the Feds signed off on different median width policies in different states, but that's a question for another day).

Something else I've noticed in my research: As you know, early Interstate bridges tended to be either steel plate girders, cast-in-place concrete tee beams, or the then-relatively new technology of precast, prestressed concrete beams. However, there seems to be a period during which the span lengths required to accommodate a sixty-foot median were in excess of what was considered viable for precast beams. Therefore, several states either stopped using them in favor of plate girders or settled for narrower medians, e.g. fifty feet in Iowa. Idaho, though, took a different approach, as you're about to see.

Black Canyon Road over I-84 (https://goo.gl/maps/3tBwccjG9qRCAfvPA), 1960 (http://bridgereports.com/1133764). This happens to be the first entry for I-84 in the westernmost Idaho county through which it passes, and it's as good a place to start as any. As you can see, Idaho was so committed to its 75-foot medians and to precast prestressed concrete beams that they accommodated both by adding an extra span over the median. Of course, extra spans over wide medians are hardly unheard of in other states, but Idaho did this pretty much everywhere for a long time.

This bridge features a bolted-on thrie beam replacing the original guardrail. Its round columns and pill-shaped bent caps render it pretty much devoid of aesthetic interest. Unfortunately, this type and the variant in the next entry dominate Idaho's Interstates.

Not far to the east is Sand Hollow Road over I-84 (https://goo.gl/maps/NAmGvsRzHDmcDi1f7), 1962 (http://bridgereports.com/1133607), with a handsome but anachronistic banister-style metal guardrail. This wider view also shows the lengthy stretches of guardrail needed to protect the median bents, as close as they are to the traffic lanes. Barely visible at the end in this 2019 view, the endblocks are being recast. Wassup with that? The Streetview shows 1962 cast into them. I wonder what date, if any, is cast into them now.

Continuing eastward at a bit of sacrifice to the narrative, here's ID 44 over I-84 (https://goo.gl/maps/2CSLSSUhC1tHXjGu5), 1964 (http://bridgereports.com/1131500). This one has plate girders with stiffener plates instead of the usual precast beams, and the banister guardrail is augmented by thrie beams. Oddly, despite choosing to go with steel here, they stuck with the extra span in the median, contrary to the practices of most other states.

We've now seen the most prevalent two types of bridge guardrail in Idaho. And it's usually one or the other, not both together as seen here.

Alas, I'm not energetic enough to pin down the year when they gave up on the five-span thing, but  US 30 over I-86 near Pocatello (https://goo.gl/maps/vWy8hfnvdjrxyh1m9), built in 1968 (http://bridgereports.com/1131427), is probably a fair representation. I reiterate: these boring-ass bridges dominate the state to a truly astonishing degree.

Surprisingly considering Idaho's early fondness for precast beams, cast-in-place tee beams are the predominant type of early Interstate mainline bridge. This one's I-84 over Purple Sage Road (https://goo.gl/maps/Lt9oSoH8JrUpjS6w8), built in 1962 (http://bridgereports.com/1131661). The thrie beam guardrail is also very common, with Jersey barriers being quite rare. There are also quite a few culverts for lesser roads, but the simple concrete slab bridges seen in other western states are apparently not a thing on Idaho Interstates. Later on, precast beams became prevalent for this class of bridge, usually with thrie beam guardrail.

Ditto Creek Road (or is it Cleft Road?) over I-84 (https://goo.gl/maps/VZeNu35MwpN3Smkp9), 1959, modified in 1978 (http://bridgereports.com/1133661). The original precast beams were replaced with shallower voided slabs. Now the vertical clearance is 16.4 feet. I saw a couple of these on I-15, too.

Here's a surprise: ID 37 over I-86 (https://goo.gl/maps/zxBT5EYaX5F9NAoF8), built in 1959 (http://bridgereports.com/1131074), is all voided slabs! The guardrail is an actual Jersey barrier, too, which is rare in Idaho. It must've been added during its 1985 rehab.

Shifting eras, here's Rainbow Road over I-86 (https://goo.gl/maps/Q1kExzfYPeTcNxdW6), 1972 (http://bridgereports.com/1132885). It's a perfectly legit cast-in-place box beam bridge, its rectangular rather than trapezoidal cross section placing it slightly on the conservative side of the awesomeness spectrum. What I find striking about this structure and its contemporaries is how Idaho went from five painfully short spans to two spectacularly long ones in one leap, with no intermediate, evolutionary phase. Not too far away is the Osborn Loop over I-86 (https://goo.gl/maps/QrsbN12aBU48ojQs5). Built in 1981 (http://bridgereports.com/1132877), it's a bit disruptive to my narrative, but too handsome to ignore. Unusually, it has a two-tube metal guardrail that extends far past the end of the bridge a la Wyoming, something I haven't seen elsewhere in my virtual travels in Idaho. Also, the only other place I recall seeing that guardrail was on a bridge built in 1964 (https://goo.gl/maps/F8RQqbn5Y1QpYjwF8)!

While we're in that area: I mentioned earlier that there are numerous culverts for lesser roadways in Idaho. This shot, along the western portion of I-86 (https://goo.gl/maps/9v5AZ2pnuMkQCYhj8), is kind of a twofer: it's also along one of quite a few sections where the median goes to 175 feet for a few miles before returning to the usual 75 feet.

Idaho did steel plate girders in the early seventies, too. Here's US 91 over I-15 (https://goo.gl/maps/yNKPSZnQLYpSbnCXA), 1971 (http://bridgereports.com/1131904). Unlike the two box beams in the previous entry, this one has four spans instead of two, likely because it's on a 44 degree skew angle. It also sports thrie beam guardrail in what looks like an original installation (https://goo.gl/maps/Sajj1WeFrAtCzoPU6) instead of that single rail-low parapet rail we saw a couple of posts back. I'm really starting to wonder when the thrie beam was first introduced. Idaho must've been an early user.

Immediately to the south is Bowman Road over I-15 (https://goo.gl/maps/cGqYZggVFGnS88K28), also built in 1971 (http://bridgereports.com/1132634), with two spans and the expected guardrail for that era.

And, immediately to the south from there, is this thing of beauty: i-15 over ID 40 (https://goo.gl/maps/bicYHNhjFbeaFZj2A), also built in 1971 (http://bridgereports.com/1131096). The northbound and southbound structures have different guardrails and two bridgereports entries, but they were supposedly modified only a year apart, in 1987-88. There are several pairs of bridges like these in the area, but they all have Jersey barriers on both sides. I dunno, man.

Finally, almost to Utah is this handsome pair of cast-in-place box beams carrying I-15 over ID 38 (https://goo.gl/maps/PJ2mdiZ5f3QWDJWu6), built in 1975 (http://bridgereports.com/1131085). This is at Malad, and there's another set at ID 36 on the other side of town, but the remaining bridges between there and the Utah line are precast, with normal-looking bents and this same guardrail. Perhaps they built these at Malad for aesthetic reasons.










Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on March 28, 2021, 10:49:45 AM
South Carolina is all too easy. It's dominated by a design with open concrete guardrails and bents with round columns and pill-shaped caps. There are precast (//http://), tee beam (https://goo.gl/maps/aP6Hj7vdnfNaNNhm9), and plate girder (https://goo.gl/maps/vgg3DuWwTRCQLQ2L6) variants, though the precast one is by far the most common: I almost gave up on trying to find a plate girder example for this feature.

While it was augmented by other types, that open concrete guardrail design persisted into the seventies, as exemplified by SC 39 over I-20 (https://goo.gl/maps/JjfWh3UiTVDEvhTAA), built in 1970 (http://bridgereports.com/1480544). As standards for median widths and side clearances increased, plate girders became dominant, but I did find this precast example carrying Ridge Road over I-20 (https://goo.gl/maps/51brAL43NPdoL7um7), built in 1968 (http://bridgereports.com/1480636), where the spans are shorter than its steel counterparts due to lesser side clearances and almost no skew. Wait: here's a better example: SC S-28-47 over I-20 (https://goo.gl/maps/WFQdK82Pe3J4qUmc7), built in 1968 (http://bridgereports.com/1485601), with minimal side clearances but a wider median at 70 feet versus 60.

Speaking of guardrails, I feel compelled to mention this hideous thing (https://goo.gl/maps/Ai1hL3DW6ojEmLhc7), which appeared for a few years in the mid sixties. It was also used on this rather spectacular set of structures near Charleston (https://goo.gl/maps/7uzZAisE7CiLQQGj7), which were recently replaced.

Not on an Interstate, but it would be remiss not to mention these bridges on the expressway section of US 29 northeast of Anderson (https://goo.gl/maps/9Fo7udjA3ifLJ2Lj8), built in 1957 (http://bridgereports.com/1712461) and presumably designed in the pre-Interstate era. The guardrail is about five inches deep (yes, I've inspected it up close), and the date is stamped into the curb (https://goo.gl/maps/wURiZ7ENa2uzeXSA8). The section of I-85 from US 29 to I-185 was completely rebuilt in the early eighties. I suspect that it was similar in design to this section of US 29; the archaic interchange layouts are visible at historicaerials.com. One of these structures was badly damaged by a vehicle strike (https://goo.gl/maps/rx9osQv8GYKABghZ8) and is said to be up for replacement. Too bad, IMO. This stretch of highway should be a roadgeek icon.

Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Mapmikey on March 28, 2021, 06:55:18 PM
More on South Carolina...

The "hideous" rail was everywhere in the Charleston area and goes back to at least 1957 (https://goo.gl/maps/2u8pVVw9ygm97mbR6) on the Sumter bypass (first freeway in SC).  Examples also existed in Columbia  (I-20 @ US 176) (https://goo.gl/maps/cDqQowJuHurhcAUW9) and Greenville (this one dated 1958 (https://goo.gl/maps/djPA66hZt6wC3a7A8)) for sure.

open concrete rails on interstates made it to at least 1973 (https://goo.gl/maps/GAGXVv5kd38mPH477) (I-95 @ US 176) and I know they were using this as early as 1958 on other I-26 bridges.

This interstate overpass was probably contemplated before the offiial interstate system was set, but was a common bridge design throughout South Carolina on non-interstates.  This is I-585 at SC 9, built 1958 (https://goo.gl/maps/Y2dqB2ZjBRQ1ecVR7).  At least one more is on I-185 in Greenville. This style was in use from about 1940 through the late 1950s.  I have seen one example where the rails were surrounded by a wood "box".

The jersey wall with single rail got in use as early as 1973 (https://goo.gl/maps/aAdopyK2AywTTwE6A) on I-77 in Rock Hill

South Carolina got creative with I-77 south of Rock Hill with what I thought as a kid was a futuristic looking bridge -  from 1980 (https://goo.gl/maps/ocifaBnPu2mTdW2t6)
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: Tom958 on March 28, 2021, 10:34:23 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on March 28, 2021, 06:55:18 PM
More on South Carolina...

The "hideous" rail was everywhere in the Charleston area and goes back to at least 1957 (https://goo.gl/maps/2u8pVVw9ygm97mbR6) on the Sumter bypass (first freeway in SC).  Examples also existed in Columbia  (I-20 @ US 176) (https://goo.gl/maps/cDqQowJuHurhcAUW9) and Greenville (this one dated 1958 (https://goo.gl/maps/djPA66hZt6wC3a7A8)) for sure.

There was also exactly one on I-85, near Anderson on a bridge that's since been replaced. As a kid, I thought it looked like something the Nazis would've come up with. I spotted and looked up the ones on the Interstates in Columbia and Charleston when I was working in Charleston in 2012-13, but I was unaware of their use earlier.

QuoteOpen concrete rails on interstates made it to at least 1973 (https://goo.gl/maps/GAGXVv5kd38mPH477) (I-95 @ US 176) and I know they were using this as early as 1958 on other I-26 bridges.

I took I-20 from Georgia to Columbia not too long ago, and I was struck by how anachronistic that rail design looked. That said, my own state of Georgia went through three successive open concrete guardrail designs, and SC's was better than at least the first two. No wonder they kept using it.
Title: Re: ORIGINAL Interstate Bridge Designs From Every State
Post by: andrepoiy on March 31, 2021, 11:41:07 AM
In Ontario, the original bridges dating to the 50s are slowly being phased out.

Highway 400 at Kettleby Road
Old:
(https://i.imgur.com/6Rr86LN.png)
New one being built:
(https://i.imgur.com/8Kp3ZRL.png)

Highway 401 at Brock Street
Old:
(https://i.imgur.com/49z4Ghr.png)
New:
(https://i.imgur.com/pQ8BqUT.png)