Sam White Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Sam White Bridge is a reinforced concrete
and steel overpass
beam bridge
which crosses Interstate 15
in American Fork, Utah
. The original bridge had only 14 in 7 in (4.45 m) underpass clearance and was named for Sam White, a former homesteader in the nearby city of Pleasant Grove
. The new bridge has an underpass clearance of 17 in 3 in (5.26 m), which exceeds the minimum standard for interstate bridges in the United States
.
The new 354-foot, 3.82-million-pound (1.73-million-kg, 1910-short-ton, 1733-tonne) bridge was built on the side of the interstate—500 feet (152.4 m) from its final location—in order to reduce traffic impact. It was then moved into place over a five-hour period using self-propelled modular transporters, finishing the process three hours ahead of schedule. It is the longest two-span bridge to be moved in the Western Hemisphere
,, and the second longest in the world to be moved.
Utah Department of Transportation, state and federal transportation and construction officials from around the United States, as well as some from other countries, were present to view it being moved into place. An area of a nearby business park was set aside for the public to watch the bridge being moved into place.
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
and steel overpass
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
beam bridge
Beam bridge
Beam bridges are the most simple of structural forms being supported by an abutment at each end of the deck. No moments are transferred through the support hence their structural type is known as simply supported....
which crosses Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in Utah
In the U.S. state of Utah, Interstate 15 runs north–south through the southwestern and central portions of the state, passing through many of the population centers of that state, including St. George, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, the latter three being part of the urban area known as...
in American Fork, Utah
American Fork, Utah
American Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, at the foot of Mount Timpanogos in the Wasatch Range, north of Utah Lake. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 26,263 at the 2010 census, nearly a 20% growth since the 2000 census...
. The original bridge had only 14 in 7 in (4.45 m) underpass clearance and was named for Sam White, a former homesteader in the nearby city of Pleasant Grove
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,798 at the 2008 census estimates.-History:...
. The new bridge has an underpass clearance of 17 in 3 in (5.26 m), which exceeds the minimum standard for interstate bridges in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The new 354-foot, 3.82-million-pound (1.73-million-kg, 1910-short-ton, 1733-tonne) bridge was built on the side of the interstate—500 feet (152.4 m) from its final location—in order to reduce traffic impact. It was then moved into place over a five-hour period using self-propelled modular transporters, finishing the process three hours ahead of schedule. It is the longest two-span bridge to be moved in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
,, and the second longest in the world to be moved.
Utah Department of Transportation, state and federal transportation and construction officials from around the United States, as well as some from other countries, were present to view it being moved into place. An area of a nearby business park was set aside for the public to watch the bridge being moved into place.