Structural Settlement Study
DOT Bridge Repairs

Combined expertise gave the DOT a single, cost-effective resource for the project’s technical demands

Phase One lays the groundwork — its forensic findings will directly drive the repair decisions in the future

Provided the DOT with solutions down the line that are both technically sound and cost-effective

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The Challenge

Determine the root cause and contributing factors of varied distress on aging bridges
Evaluate findings across multiple structure types
Develop a comprehensive design for effective repairs and long term mitigation

A U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sought a geotechnical engineering team capable of determining the root cause and contributing factors for widespread and varied distress across a number of aging bridges. They needed a team that could evaluate findings across multiple structure types, and ultimately develop a comprehensive design for effective repairs and long term mitigation. Geocomp was selected to lead Phase One of the study and led the assembly of a multidisciplinary team, pairing its own geotechnical forensics expertise with subconsultant partners’ structural analysis and field instrumentation capabilities, to provide the DOT with a single, cohesive resource capable of addressing the project’s technical demands in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The Solution

The DOT engaged Geocomp to lead a forensic investigation into significant and premature structural distress observed across numerous bridges throughout the western region of the U.S. The affected bridge approaches span a range of design types, including one- and two-stage Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls, geofoam embankments, and sloped fill embankments. The investigation will help build the plan and identify the specific methods and approaches needed to measure, track, and evaluate the performance and underlying causes of several observed deficiencies, including: