SECOND BLUE WATER BRIDGE

Location:

Across the St. Clair River between Sarnia, Ontario, Canada to Port Huron, Michigan, USA

Description:

The $100 million second Blue Water Bridge is a high level international crossing located immediately south of the original steel cantilever truss bridge, which opened in 1938. The toll highway bridges are jointly owned and operated by the Blue Water Bridge Authority (Canadian half) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (US half). The design was carried out by an equal joint venture of Canadian and US consulting engineers, and the major construction contract, consisting of main span unit and three flanking spans on each side, was similarly awarded to a joint venture of a Canadian and a US general contractor.

The river crossing consists of a three span continuous steel tied arch and carries three traffic lanes and a sidewalk.

Total length including approach spans: 1.9 km (1.18 miles)
Main span: 281 m (922 ft.)

Owner and Client:

Blue Water Bridge Authority/Michigan Department of Transportation

Scope of Work:

Buckland & Taylor Ltd. (with Modjeski and Masters, Inc.) designed and provided construction services for the new crossing parallel to the existing Blue Water Bridge. Buckland & Taylor Ltd. provided the design phase Project Manager, designed the main piers and foundations, designed the steel box girders and piers and foundations in the six flanking spans, and provided overview and on-site construction phase engineering services. It is the first major bridge in the US designed to AASHTO LRFD. Completed in 1997.

Awards:

• The FHWA 1998 Excellence in Highway Design Award was awarded to the Blue Water Bridge Project.

• The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction presented Buckland & Taylor Ltd. with Ontario Steel Design Award for its work on the Canadian half of the Blue Water Bridge.

• O.A.C.E.T.T. (Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists) Outstanding Technical Achievement Award was awarded to Buckland & Taylor Ltd. and Modjeski & Masters, Inc. for outstanding engineering and technical achievement in the suspension system construction of the Sarnia - Port Huron Blue Water Bridge twin span, and a paragon of international cooperation.

View Information on the First Blue Water Bridge

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