Superstructure takes shape on Cumberland Lake Bridge

Published: August 13, 2004

The first verticals have been erected for construction of the superstructure

for the new Cumberland Lake Bridge in Kentucky, USA. Main contractor American

Bridge has a US$49 million contract to build the new bridge, carrying out all

the steel erection for the 479m-long, two-span continuous truss which weighs

more than 11,000t. The existing bridge will be demolished once the new structure

is complete.

Each of the verticals is 34m long and weighs 20t; the first bottom chords of

the truss, 30m long and weighing 55t, have also been erected. The bridge will

be built by the balanced cantilever technique. It will cross one of the deepest

parts of Lake Cumberland but the contractor has avoided the need for falsework

bents in the 55m-deep water by connecting them to the pile cap. Massman Construction

was responsible for the substructure contract.