I-40 Over Yadkin River Dual Bridge Replacement (NCDOT I-0911A)

The North Carolina Department of Transportation intended to replace two bridges along a 3.3 mile stretch of I-40 over the Yadkin River in Davie and Forsyth counties, North Carolina. The project was part of a larger design-build project to widen the road, thereby improving transportation safety and increasing traffic carrying capacity along I-40. NCDOT chose S&ME to provide subsurface exploration, including drilling, and to prepare a structure inventory report in support of dual bridge replacement project. Existing bridges No. 85 and No. 86 were replaced with new 9-span dual 1,100 foot long, prestressed concrete girder structures.

The subsurface investigation for the dual bridges included 39 soil test borings with rock coring. The highly complex drilling project required multiple ATV and truck mounted drills as well as drilling in the river channel from S&ME’s barge. S&ME used a crane to launch the barge from the bridge, while coordinating traffic flow  along I-40 and addressing challenges from multiple private stakeholders. Final deliverables were the results from the rock core compressive strength testing program a Structure Inventory Report.