Retrofitting to correct uplift of curved girder bridge through field testing and analysis

The Ramp C bridge at the New York State Thruway interchange with I-287 and New York State Route 17 in Rockland County near the New Jersey state line is a continuous four-span bridge with a reverse horizontal curve alignment. It consists of five steel girders with radial abutments and skewed pier supports (61 degrees). During construction immediately after the girders were erected and the counterweights were poured, at low temperatures, an unanticipated girder uplift occurred at one corner of an end span. Physical testing and analysis were undertaken to investigate this occurrence and to estimate the uplift forces. The data were used to design a tie-down system to correct the uplift problem and thus avoid delays in opening the bridge to traffic.