Samsondale Bridge

What was the Challenge?

The main challenge of the project was to provide standard vertical clearances for trains passing under the new bridge. The existing bridge had non-standard clearances and the railroad required the standards to be met with the proposed design. The roadway above the railroad could not simply be raised to meet the clearance needs as it would result in negative impacts to the roadway geometry and to adjacent houses.

How did Barton & Loguidice provide a solution?

B&L engineers worked closely with the County and railroad to gain approval of the proposed vertical clearance.  To accomplish this, B&L structural engineers designed the new steel girders to minimize depth while B&L highway engineers developed the required vertical and horizontal alignments to minimize impacts to the adjacent roadway.  This resulted in meeting the needs of the railroad while improving upon the geometrics of the roadway.

Why was the project a success?

The project was a success in that the needs of both the County and the railroad were met by the proposed project.  While the main focus of the project was to replace the bridge, a collaborative team effort across multiple firm disciplines helped achieve this success, including design of a decorative lighting system and completed utility relocation design for a waterline carried on the proposed bridge.