State: KENTUCKY

Agency: KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - DISTRICT 12

Project and/or Route Name: RAMP "B" BRIDGE-U.S. HIGHWAY 23 RELOCATION

PIKE COUNTY

Dates: 1975 – 1987

Rural and/or Urban: RURAL

Length: 380 FEET

Type of Improvement: GRADE SEPARATION FOR HIGHWAY RELOCATION

Firm's Project Manager: ROBERT B. QUISENBERRY,P.E.,L.S.,V.P.-STRUCTURES, FIRM PRINCIPAL

Firm's Project Engineer: LESTER WIMPY, P.E., PROJECT DESIGN ENGINEER

Project Description :

The following description is an excerpt from "State Government News", Frankfort, Ky. (April 18, 1989) -- The U.S. 23 bridge near Pikeville has won the Prestressed Concrete Institute award for its economic and structural advantages and aesthetic qualities. The bridge was included in the relocation of U.S. 23, which was part of a much larger project, the Pikeville Cut-Through. In addition to the relocation of a highway, the cut-through project required relocation of a river and railroad through a mountain. The project has improved access to Pikeville and provided new land for industrial and commercial growth for the city. The award-winning bridge, located on Ramp B, provides access to Pikeville when traveling south on U.S. 23. Early in the design phase it was apparent that normal precast beams, decks and girders could not be used because of the span's length, degree of curve and height above the ground. The Transportation Cabinet selected a precast, prestressed segmental box girder system with longitudinal posttensioning as the most economical and effective method to address the new bridge construction. The new three-span bridge has an overall length of 381 feet and consists of 48 precast box girder sections. The bridge was opened to traffic in October of 1987. Johnson, Depp & Quisenberry provided all engineering and design for the relocation of U.S. Hwy. 23 which was a part of the Pikeville Cut-Thru where a highway, railroad and river were relocated. Other large bridges were also designed by Johnson, Depp & Quisenberry in addition to the Ramp "B" Bridge. Janssen & Spaans & Associates of Indianapolis was a subconsultant on the superstructure portion of the bridge. The bridge is located in a 10 degree horizontal curve and is a three span segmental structure with a center span of 185 feet and end spans of 92.5 feet. The bridge was the winner in the 1988 PCI Professional Design Awards Program for spans over 135 feet. Plans were completed in 1982 and construction was complete in 1987. The construction cost of the bridge was $959,226.