Category - 3A Major Highway Structures (>10 million dollars) U.S. 64/264 : ( R-2551) Every year, thousands of commuters travel to the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. The new bridge along U.S. 64/264 allows motorists and bicyclists to cross the Croatan Sound safely as they enjoy the scenic view from the bridge. This 5.2-mile long project boasts a multi-lane facility, two lanes in each direction and 4-foot wide bicycle lanes on both sides of the bridge. Not only does the bridge crest give the bridge a distinguished look, but it also contains bicycle overlooks for riders to enjoy the view of the surrounding area. Engineers conserved as much of the Wetlands as possible, and they included a storm drainage system to capture runoff. The U.S. 64/264 bridge over the Croatan Sound provides a reliable connection between the mainland and the Outer Banks while also maintaining the natural beauty of the area. (click to enlarge)     Category - 3B Major Highway Structures (<10 million dollars) Glenwood Ave. Bridge over Wade Ave. : (B-3254) Located in an urban residential area that includes several historic properties, the Glenwood Ave. Bridge over Wade Ave. in Raleigh presented engineers with a unique challenge. Engineers had to replace a functionally and structurally deficient three-span bridge with a new structure that blended well with the surrounding area and preserved trees while also maintaining the flow of traffic throughout construction. In order to provide the minimum vertical clearance and grade changes on Glenwood Ave., engineers utilized a single span, shallow steel-plate girder bridge. Engineers employed integral abutment end bents to eliminate joints and provide additional stiffness to minimize live load deflections. Traffic flowed throughout the construction process, as construction commenced in two stages. The Josephus Daniels House, a National Historic Landmark, can be seen from the bridge location, and engineers designed the bridge walls to have a simulated rock face that matched the pattern of the house. In addition, the bridge contains extended retaining walls to supply an acceleration lane. The finished bridge is a testament to new and efficient designs with the look of historic value. (click to enlarge)

Category 3B Major Highway Structures: Grassy Creek Bridge in Ashe County (B-3302) Throughout the design process for the Grassy Creek Bridge, engineers worked to design a bridge that was sensitive to the surrounding area. The existing bridge spanned Grassy Creek and ran parallel to the New River. The New River was designated as a wild and scenic river, and the beauty of the surrounding area called for a new design which would compliment these two bodies of water. The original proposal included replacing the one-lane bridge with a triple barrel box culvert as well as constructing a two-lane roadway with a one-lane on-site detour. However, this design was replaced in order to satisfy the citizens concerns as well as preserve the visual aesthetics of the natural environment. Instead, engineers chose to construct a single span arch structure with a rock veneer, a single gravel turn lane, a rustic guardrail and an off-site detour. These design changes allowed engineers to build a bridge that was both safe and enjoyable in an area of scenic beauty. (click to enlarge)    Back to Biennial Awards Homepage