Proj Overview

Project Overview

The Hodder bridge spans six highway lanes and is founded on a combination of hard till and bedrock. Because the structure would be exposed to the harsh northern Ontario climate, it was necessary to choose a construction material that could stand up to extreme weather conditions.

The owners of the bridge are extremely proud of the finished structure. The use of UHPC enabled them to achieve the intended objective of an open, aesthetically pleasing, and welcoming bridge, which was also economical and durable. It will now form the baseline design for a number of other planned overpasses on this section of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Precast Solution

The Hodder Avenue underpass is the first structure in North America to incorporate precast UHPC pier cap and pier column shells along with precast high-performance concrete box girders, parapet walls, and approach slabs. All field connections were field cast using UHPC, resulting in smaller, simpler joints with superior durability. The use of UHPC also enabled the design team to create a clean, open frame with sleek, elegant lines to meet the owner’s aesthetic goals.

This project demonstrates that the use of precast ultra-high-performance and high-performance concrete bridge elements combined with field-cast UHPC connections gives designers an opportunity to advance bridge performance, shorten construction time, and extend the durability of these spans. The result is a resilient, attractive structure that is built to last, as well as an excellent model for similar precast bridge projects worldwide.

 

Awards_
2013 PCI Design AwardsHarry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award
2013 PCI Design AwardsDesign Award Transportation: Best Bridge with a Main Span from 76 to 149 feet
Project Team

Engineer of Record

Hatch Mott MacDonald

General Contractor

Teranorth Construction & Engineering Ltd.

Owner

Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Northwestern Region

Precaster and UHPC Supplier

Lafarge Canada Inc.

Key Project Attributes

  • Precast concrete was used because of its resilient qualities that stands up to extreme weather conditions
  • Precast concrete solution increased structural capacity and met the design requirements
  • Precast concrete allows designers to advance bridge performance, shorten construction time, and extend the durability of the spans

Project/Precast Scope

  • Total Cost: $9 million
  • Bridge Length: 279 ft (85 m)
  • Each girder took 15 minutes to be erected, with 16 girders per span