Flow control system for culverts

A structure for supporting a road along a road axis over an underpass space spanned by the structure, comprising:

• two footings underlying a road and mounted to the earth, the footings being spaced apart in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the road, the road having a width extending in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;
• a support assembly supported by the footings and underlying the road, the support assembly having an arcuate shape and extending at least the width of the road and traversing an underpass space spanned by the structure for supporting the road across the underpass space spanned by the structure, the support assembly comprising:
• a substantially continuous inner shell having a width at least corresponding to the width of the road, and extending between the two footings so as to define the underpass space spanned by the structure;
• a plurality of rigid beams surmounting the inner shell, each beam having a first end supported by a first footing of the footings, and a second end supported by a second footing of the footings, the beams being spatially disposed in a direction transverse to the road axis and having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction substantially parallel to the road axis;
• an insulating material being positioned between each of the beams for thermally isolating the road and the remainder of the support assembly from the underpass space and substantially preventing transfer of heat therethrough to the underpass space;
• and
• an outer shell having a first end supported by the first footing, and a second end supported by the second footing, the outer shell positioned above the beams and the insulating material;
• a first culvert having a first end and a second end and a length between the first end and the second end, the length of the first culvert positioned through the underpass space, the first culvert configured to transfer water through the underpass space;
• a second culvert having a first end positioned on a first side of the support assembly and connected to the first end of the first culvert, a second end positioned on a second side of the support assembly, and a length between the first end and the second end and positioned around the support assembly, the second culvert configured to transfer water around the support assembly;
• one or more barriers positioned to control flow of water within the first culvert and the second culvert;
• and
• one or more computer processors configured to execute software that causes the one or more computer processors to:
• receive precipitation forecast data;
• receive water volume data for water flowing toward the underpass space;
• predict water volume input to the underpass space based on the water volume data and the precipitation forecast data;
• and
• control the position of the one or more barriers to control flow of water within the first culvert and the second culvert based on the predicted water volume input.