Frederick Douglas Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.c.
Duane Lempke - Duane Lempke Photography
Aerial view of Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (replacement bridge), Washington, D.C., with construction almost complete in August 2021. The older bridge, built 1950, is seen to the right of the new bridge.
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge project was the largest transportation project in the history of Washington, D.C. The project included creating a new bridge design that will last 100 years and transforming South Capitol Street into a prominent gateway. It was completed in 2021 and replaced an older swing bridge that was completed in 1950 as the South Capitol Street Bridge.The presentation will focus on the project technical complexities including: design and construction of an unconventional three-arch system that allows the superstructure to freely move through the arches; variable depth hexagonal, unbraced and parallel arches with internal splice connection details; critical steel arch base connections into post-tensioned concrete v-piers; use of cable-stay technology to support the superstructure; 1800-ton capacity steel pipe piles; precast concrete deck panels incorporating stainless & epoxy coated reinforcing steel along with a polyester polymer concrete (PPC) overlay; and 1700 cy mass concrete water line footings & v-pier construction.
This annual lecture honors Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Zia, former professor and department head of NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, and a structural engineer who is eminent in research, professional society leadership and practice.
Watch the video of the 2023 lecture here.
