Procedures and Guidelines for Design of Lateral Bridge Slide Activities

Abstract

Accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methods are implemented to reduce mobility impact time. In Michigan, four bridges were replaced using lateral slide, which is one of the ABC methods. The Michigan projects, a large volume of project documentation in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) repository, and resources available through state departments of transportation (DOTs) were reviewed and the successes, difficulties, and activities were documented and analyzed. Additionally, instrumentation and monitoring as well as simulations of two slides completed in Michigan were performed. Simulations evaluated structural system response, and investigated the sources and effects of the complications during slides. Based on the experience through all these activities, a detailed step-by-step design procedure is developed and described in this article. The purpose of the article is to provide a structured process to complete, review, and verify the design calculations related to slide activities described in the current AASHTO guidelines. The procedures described in this article, along with the AASHTO specifications, can be used to design and execute repeatable slide implementations.