while the remainder of the bridge was constructed. The final phase shifted Norfolk Southern to its final location in the center of the bridge. Drilled shafts were used for pier and abutment foundations in conjunction with top-down construction. Due to the rela- tively long spans and substructure deflection limits, drilled shafts included heavy reinforcement and embedded steel shapes. A concrete facing was installed on the drilled shafts after the em- bankment below the bridge was excavated to allow for the new roadway beneath. The E. 55th Street structure was also constructed via top-down methods to maintain traffic along E. 55th Street. This single span, 108’ long, bridge included semi- integral abutments founded on 24” closed-end pipe piles. Similar to the Norfolk Southern crossing,
Photo: ODOT/Kokaosing Construction
a concrete facing was installed on new piling post excavation. The piling was oriented as a frame to withstand the large overturning mo- ments due to the depth of excavation. Limited right-of-way and poor soil conditions at this location limited more traditional methods such as tied back foundations or drilled shafts. The project also required crossing the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Blue Green line and the needed structures were curved with a 57-degree skew. The tracks below were along a curved alignment, which combined with existing utility conflicts, severely limited substructure placement, necessitating a refined super - structure analysis to finalize designs. Addressing Drainage and the Stormwater Another major aspect of the Opportunity Corridor, Section 3 project addressed drainage and stormwater within the project area. Michael Baker's drainage design services included hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of the storm sewer system using advanced modeling soft- ware. The firm used the citywide model to evaluate proposed stormwa - ter alternatives for the new roadway and impacts on the existing sewer system. The model was also used to size the proposed drainage and diversion structures. The Opportunity Corridor, Section 3 project is located within a com - bined sewer service area, with outfalls to two different treatment plants (Easterly and Southerly). The project could not add peak flows within the combined sewer system but was able to utilize the various branches of the Kingsbury Run Culvert Stormwater Outlet (SWO) to remove large portions of the drainage area. And that all new storm outfall loca- tions received stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) in accor -
dance with ODOT L&D Volume 2 requirements and outlet into SWO outfalls in accordance with NEORSD requirements on the Kingsbury Run system where feasible. Realizing the Opportunities The Opportunity Corridor provides connections to rail, transit, com- mercial transportation, an industrial park, and residential neighbor- hoods. During five years of design and construction, developers recognized the opportunity and invested approximately $1 billion in projects within a quarter mile of the corridor. Opportunities for addi - tional developments, such as the Northeast Ohio Food Hub, exist along the corridor. The project is aligned with the city’s effort to restore jobs and new housing opportunities along the boulevard. It also provided multi-modal connections between neighborhoods and public transpor- tation facilities that were previously separated by numerous natural and man-made barriers. The approach to bring an all-encompassing improvement to the “Forgotten Triangle'' addressed the area’s needs for multiple transportation options and neighborhood expansion. Ad- ditional improvements make the area a true destination, including safer pedestrian spaces, two pedestrian bridges, and a future connection to the Cuyahoga Greenways Network, which connects hundreds of miles of existing and expanding bike routes. Forgotten no longer, the Opportunity Corridor is an important transpor- tation investment towards revitalizing Cleveland’s Fairfax, Kinsman and Central neighborhoods, opening up new opportunities and build- ing a vibrant environment for residents and visitors alike.
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csengineermag.com
May 2022
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