Bridge and method of installing prefabricated bridges and bridge structure

A method of bridge construction, comprising

• erecting a bridge pier at a bridge site across a body of water,
• the pier being composed of two portions with a span-accepting slot between them along the longitudinal centerline of said pier, the two portions being joined together at a predetermined level above the surface of the body of water, with the combined pier secured to, and rising from a foundation to a horizontal deck-support platform portion,
• meanwhile, at a locus distant from said bridge site, making a complete span having a deck and adapted to fit through said slot, a pair of towers on opposite sides of the deck at its longitudinal midpoint for resting on the support platforms of the pier, and a series of span-supporting cables secured to the towers at their upper ends and to the span's deck at their lower ends,
• when the pier and span have been completed, transporting the span by barge along said body of water to a locus adjacent the bridge site,
• maneuvering the barge and span so that the span is aligned with the slot of said pier,
• inserting the span through the slot of the pier,
• centering said span relative to said pier,
• jacking said span up to a locus above said deck-support platform,
• placing a cross girder underneath the span,
• resting its towers on the pier portion and said deck on said cross-girder, and
• securing the span with the deck to the pier.

A method of bridge construction, comprising

• erecting a bridge pier at a bridge site across a body of water,
• the pier being composed of two portions with a span-accepting slot between them along the longitudinal centerline of said pier, the two portions being joined together at a predetermined level above the surface of the body of water, with the combined pier secured to, and rising form a foundation to a horizontal deck-support platform portion,
• meanwhile, at a locus distant from said bridge site, making a complete span having a deck and adapted to fit through said slot, a pair of towers on opposite sides of the deck at its longitudinal midpoint for resting on the support platforms of the pier, and a series of span-supporting cables secured to the towers at their upper ends and to the span's deck at their lower ends,
• when the pier and span have been completed, transporting the span by barge along said body of water to a locus adjacent the bridge site and, in said transporting step aligning said span with and centering it on the longitudinal axis of said barge,
• manueuvering the barge and span so that the span is aligned with the slot of said pier,
• said maneuvering step including swivelling said span 90.degree. relatively to said barge,
• inserting the span through the slot of the pier,
• centering said span relative to said pier,
• jacking said span up to a locus above said deck-support platform,
• placing a cross girder underneath the span,
• resting its towers on the pier portion and said deck on said cross-girder, and
• securing the span with the deck to the pier.

A bridge-building method comprising

• (1) erecting at a bridge site across a body of water a bridge pier composed of two pier portions with a span-accepting slot between, said slot lying along the bridge centerline, each said two pier portions being joined together as a combined pier portion at a predetermined level above the low-water level of said body of water, with the combined pier portion resting on an underwater footing the vertical pier portions resting on, secured to, and rising from said footing to a deck-support platform,
• (2) making at a locus distant from said bridge site, a complete span having a deck adapted to fit through said slot, a pair of towers on opposite sides of the deck at its midpoint for resting on said support platforms, and a series of span-supporting cables secured to said tower at their upper ends and to the span's deck at their lower ends,
• (3) transporting, by a barge having a longitudinal axis, along said body of water, said span to a locus adjacent said bridge site, said span during transport being aligned with and centered on the longitudinal axis of said barge,
• (4) aligning said barge and span so that said span is aligned with the slot of said pier,
• (5) inserting said span through said slot,
• (6) centering said span upon said pier,
• (7) lifting said span up and resting its said towers on said deck-support platform, and
• (8) securing said span to said pier with said deck at the proper level.

A bridge-building method comprising

• (1) erecting at a bridge site across a body of water a bridge pier composed of two pier portions with a span-accepting slot between, said slot lying along the bridge centerline, each said two pier portions being joined together as a combined pier portion at a predetermined level above the low-water level of said body of water, with the combined pier portion resting on an underwater footing, the vertical pier portions resting on, secured to, and rising from said footing to a deck-support platform,
• (2) making at a locus distant from said bridge site, a complete span having a deck adapted to fit through said slot, a pair of towers on opposite sides of the deck at its midpoint for resting on said support platforms, and a series of span-supporting cables secured to said tower at their upper ends and to the span's deck at their lower ends,
• (3) transporting, by a barge having a longitudinal axis, along said body of water, said span to a locus adjacent to said bridge site, said span during transport being aligned with and centered on the longitudinal axis of said barge,
• said span being supported on said barge during said transporting step by swivelling means,
• (4) aligning said barge and span so that said span is aligned with the slot of said pier,
• (5) inserting said span through said slot,
• (6) centering said span upon said pier,
• (7) lifting said span up and resting its said towers on said deck-support platform, and
• (8) securing said span to said pier with said deck at the proper level,
• after said transporting step (3) and before said inserting step (5) as part of said aligning step (4), swinging said span on said swivelling means to move said span 90.degree. so that it lies laterally centered across said barge.

A method of bridge construction comprising erecting a bridge pier at a bridge site across a body of water,

• the pier being composed of two portions with a span-accepting slot between them along the longitudinal centerline of said pier, the two portions being joined together at a predetermined level above the surface of the body of water, with the combined pier secured to, and rising from a foundation to a horizontal deck-support platform portion,
• meanwhile, at a locus distant from said bridge site, making a complete span having a deck and adapted to fit through said slot,
• when the pier and span have been completed, transporting the span by barge along said body of water to a locus adjacent the bridge site, and, in said transporting step aligning said span with and centering it on the longitudinal axis of said barge,
• maneuvering the barge and span so that the span is aligned with the slot of said pier,
• said maneuvering step includes a swivelling said span 90.degree. relatively to said barge,
• inserting the span through the slot of the pier,
• centering said span relative to said pier,
• jacking said span up to a locus above said deck-support platform,
• placing a cross girder underneath the span, and
• securing the span with the deck to the pier.

The bridge building method comprising

• (1) erecting at a bridge site across a body of water a bridge pier composed of two pier portions with a span-accepting slot between, said slot lying along the bridge centerline, each said two pier portions being joined together as a combined pier portion at a predetermined level above the low-water level of said body of water, with the combined pier portion resting on an underwater footing, the vertical pier portions resting on, secured to, and rising from said footing to a deck-support platform,
• (2) making at a locus distant from said bridge site, a complete span having a deck adapted to fit through said slot,
• (3) transporting, a by a barge having a longitudinal axis, along said body of water, said span to a locus adjacent to said bridge site, said span during transport being aligned with and centered on the longitudinal axis of said barge,
• said span is being supported on said barge during said transporting step by swivelling means,
• (4) aligning said barge and span so that said span is aligned with the slot of said pair, after said transporting step (3) and before said inserting step as part of said aligning step (4), swinging said span on said swivelling means to move said span 90.degree. so that it lies laterally centered across said barge.