Lewis and Clark Viaduct, Kansas City, KS. Photo: Confluence
Additionally, the team conducted hydraulic studies to determine if construction might contribute to potential future flooding. The studies accounted for multiple stages of future construction and determined that adding new bridge piers would not result in a rise in water level in the final condition. Visual Considerations The visual aesthetic of the bridge and stakeholder input were both vital factors in making key project decisions. In conjunction with the City of Kansas City’s downtown master plan, Burns & McDonnell also coordinated development of comprehensive urban design guidelines that were adopted by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. To shape and design the aesthetic appeal of the viaduct, Burns & McDonnell partnered with Confluence, an urban design firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. The team developed two design themes for consideration by key invested stakeholders –a river prairie theme and an urban industrial theme. Ultimately, an urban industrial aesthetic approach was chosen after many public meetings involving the design team, owner and commu- nity members. The design theme is reflected in the visual appearance of the viaduct, support structures, barriers and retaining walls. This approach will give each phase of the Lewis & Clark Viaduct project a consistent look and feel. Based on stakeholder input, the team also incorporated a future bike path in the design to accommodate the feature already present in the
existing bridge. Bicyclists will continue to be able to use the bridge to cross between the cities, with design considerations that provide space for both pedestrians and bicyclists below the future eastbound bridge. Phase 2 of the project will accommodate for this aspect of the bridge to remain part of the Lewis & Clark Viaduct. Design of the bridge began in 2012 and was completed in 2017, but weather-related challenges delayed construction in Phase 1. Major flooding and severe weather in 2019 forced construction in the river portion to shut down, with work on the river piers virtually impossible to complete due to high flood waters. Crews were unable to access pier sites in the Kansas River, preventing work from continuing on the upright piers of the structure. The flooding resulted in most of the possible workdays being lost in the spring of 2019. Despite project delays in the river, the half-mile bridge replacement associated with Phase 1 is anticipated to be completed this year. Mov- ing forward, and when funding is available, Phase 2 of the project is expected to replace the eastbound bridge, and a subsequent Phase 3 will add flyover ramps to carry westbound I-70 over the river. KEVIN EISENBEIS is director of bridges at Burns & McDonnell. In this role, he coordinates the firm’s bridge construction design work for contractors and serves as project engineer and principal designer on major projects. His experience includes design and preparation of construction plans for highway and railway projects, long-span steel and prestressed concrete structures, steel trusses, moveable bridges and many other facets of bridge construction and design.
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csengineermag.com
october 2020
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