Engineering Commons^™

Development Of A Priority Ranking System For Bridge Rehabilitation And Replacement, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The main objective of this study was to review a Bridge Priority Ranking System for Bridge Replacement developed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Maintenance. The system ranked bridges for improvement (rehabilitation or replacement) based on a benefit/cost ratio.

The system was used to rank a large data base consisting of 267 bridges. Analysis of the rankings revealed that the ranking system gave priority to bridges having low improvement costs. Many of those had low traffic volumes and subsequently, they had high costs of improvement per vehicle served.

The equation used to compute bridge deficiency points was revised. Several …

Load Indicating Washers, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) personnel monitored the installation of load indicating washers (LIWs) on the US 60 bridge at Catlettsburg, KY during construction. On completion of the bridge, KTC personnel performed torque measurements on a number of LIW installations. LIWs previously installed on the Thirteenth Street Bridge over the Ohio River at Ashland, KY were also inspected.

The KTC construction inspections revealed no significant problems in installing LIWs. Workers were able to use them to determine proper bolt assembly installation. They also permitted inspectors to rapidly check for proper bolt tension. As with other bolt tensioning methods, LIWs had to …

Modular Expansion Joints And Deck Drains, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Inspections were conducted on bridge modular expansion joints and deck drains to assess their performance. Forty-four modular expansion joints were inspected including 38 Wabo-Maurer and 16 Acme joints. Twenty-three elastomeric dams were also inspected for comparative purposes including 21 Transflex dams and 2 Fei-Span units. The joints were rated using a quantitative subjective rating system developed by Penn DOT.

Both the modular expansion joints and the newer expansion dams were performing satisfactorily. Both types of joints leaked and experienced a number of minor hardware problems. some of the joints may warrant repairs to restore their complete function.

Deck drains and …

Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Of Transportation Facilities For Mclean County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Vincent P. Drnevich

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Concern has grown in recent years over the seismic activity of the New Madrid seismic zone in Western Kentucky. McLean County, Kentucky is located in this region. To permit emergency medical, supply, and equipment traffic into this area after an earthquake has occurred, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is interested in the possibility of keeping selected routes passable. This report lists the route that has been investigated and recommended as being the route in McLean County that should be maintained in passable condition. The recommended route, KY 136, has been visually surveyed and all seismically significant features cataloged. These features are …