Posted on 12/26/2018 11:05:50 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Most newer concrete beams that hold up Utah highway bridges are around 145 feet long. But the Utah Department of Transportation is about to place six that are 40 percent longer — 203 feet — to help widen Interstate 15 in Lehi.
They are longer than the iconic Cinderella’s castle in Walt Disney World (189 feet) is high, or the leaning tower of Pisa (185 feet).
They also will be the third-longest single-component beams in the United States, slightly shorter than two in Orlando, Fla., and Seattle, said Lee Wegner, with Forterra Structural Precast, the West Valley City company that is making them.
They may also create a bit of a spectacle along Utah highways over the next few days. They are being shipped one at a time on long, wide trailers that take up two lanes of traffic — with Highway Patrol and pilot car escorts — and will mostly travel on freeways.
And crews will have “two massive cranes out there dropping pretty massive beams into place” in Lehi over a four-day process beginning probably on Thursday, said UDOT spokesman John Gleason.
The beams are being installed where I-15 crosses over some rail tracks and trails between the Lehi Main Street and 2100 North exits, and will help widen the freeway as part of the Technology Corridor project. Installation is not expected to interfere with or slow I-15 traffic, which is detoured around the work location.
“They are massive,” Wegner said about the beams. “They are roughly 225,000 pounds — a quarter-million pounds. They are just over 8 feet deep.”
He adds, “Up until probably the last five to 10 years, the technology did not exist to stretch them out to what we can do now.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
“each beam”
My computer is pretending that it’s a smart phone today.
“on a 210’ long trailer?”
No trailer, axles attached to the beams every XX feet as determined by the manufacturer for safety and to reduce stress on product.
No way these hogs will travel on most non-interstate highways.
You’re looking at 215-220 total feet of vehicle and beam. Imagine that trying to maneuver the highway.
Traffic will be seriously backed up as those loads won’t travel at more than 45-50 mph.
Transport will make every newscast on it’s route.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.