OPAC Consulting Engineers

Lewiston-Clarkston Bridge


Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington

Client:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Walla Walla, Washington

Date:

Design completed 1979
Construction completed 1984

Scope of work:

Design

Construction cost:

US $16 million

Services Performed:

  • Bridge type selection
  • Final design and contract document
  • Construction support

Issues:

  • CIP segmental construction
  • Complex construction staging

This four-lane, high-level crossing of the Snake River connects the towns of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington. The final design was cited as the first place winner of the FHWA Excellence in Highway Design - 1986 Biennial Award. The structure was constructed with cast-in-place, prestressed concrete segmental cantilevered single-cell box sections of 70 ft width. The 5-span superstructure has a total length of 1,750 ft, with the longest span being 610 ft. The alignment and layout of the approaches to the bridge were closely coordinated with representative organizations from both states to meet their respective urban planning and aesthetic requirements. The final design represents an optimal combination of function, economy, aesthetics, and environmental requirements. T.Y. Lin International (TYLI) was the engineer of record.

  • Mark Ketchum, current OPAC principal, served as Lead Engineer while at TYLI, and performed analysis and design in both the preliminary and final design phases.
  • Kwong Cheng, current OPAC principal, served as Project Engineer while at TYLI, and provided guidance on the analytical investigation and load-testing of the bridge, and performed analysis and design in the final design phase.