March 2019
New bascule bridge stretches across Tamiami Canal
MIAMI, FL - A new single leaf bascule bridge stretches across the Tamiami Canal, replacing a 95-year-old deteriorating swing bridge. Archer Western led the bridge replacement operations along with widening the approach roadways, dredging the Tamiami Canal and relocating a 24-inch water main.
The new bridge is a rack and pinion type bascule bridge, and the foundation is especially unique due to existing lime rock layer. The project team drilled through the lime rock layer using temporary casing and installed 24-inch prestress piling in the caisson and drove to the desired capacity.
The caisson was then filled with drill shaft concrete in annulus and temporary casing was pulled out to be reused. A total of 70 prestress piles were installed in the main pier, and soil anchors and auger cast anchors were installed underwater to hold the concrete seal slab during construction. Additionally, the water channel was widened and excavated/dredged for boat traffic.
The original 95-year-old swing bridge was relocated 1.5 miles using a self-propelled modular transport (SPMT) to move the bridge through Miami streets to a nearby park for refurbishment (Click here to watch the bridge relocation). Today, it maintains its historical integrity and serves as a pedestrian bridge at the park.
