Where there was smoke, there was activity. A day following the collapse of the I-85 bridge due to a fire, crews began demolishing the bridge sections. The extent of the heat damage was such that 13 columns that supported bent caps required bolstering. The design solution was to retain the columns to a height having a structural integrity to work from while removing all delaminated concrete, chipping to expose the existing reinforcement and providing additional steel reinforcement. The project was supposed to open on June 15, but the contractors finished all work by Memorial Day.
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Cost: $16.6 million
Length: 350 ft
Designer: Georgia DOT
Contractors: C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc., D.H. Griffin
Owner: Georgia DOT
