Client: Hurlen Construction Company
Owner: Weyerhaeuser Company
Cost of Work: $2.75 million

The Columbia & Cowlitz Railway Bridge #7 was severely damaged by fire in the summer of 2001, effectively destroying 900-feet of the structure. The bridge was part of the railway line that transported a significant amount of Weyerhaeuser timber product. The loss of the bridge forced Weyerhaeuser to absorb alternate transportation costs and affected the employment of many, making it necessary to quickly repair the bridge.

In a Design Build partnership with Hurlen Construction, PND provided the design for reconstruction of 700-feet of curved elevated railroad structure and repair of another 200-feet of damaged existing structure. The bridge crossed a paved county road through a populated housing subdivision. The new bridge structure was supported by driven steel piles on 50-foot centers spanned by rolled steel girders and an open deck. The new structure minimized the number of piles by using large diameter SPIN FIN® piles having unique fin tips in a rigid frame system. Minimizing the number of piles was critical in shortening project duration and lowering construction impacts to the surrounding residences. The PND/Hurlen team offered several cost and schedule reduction concepts that brought the project within budget and met earlier than anticipated completion dates.

The project was done on an extremely fast-track basis and completed in just 93 days. PND was responsible for all surveys, soils exploration, design, and construction inspection tasks associated with the project. PND also ensured that all customer and regulatory requirements were met and that practical solutions were obtained.