The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

Abstract

The project for the new bridge over the Potomac river, which is 1,800 m long, and will be situated within the metropolitan zone of Washington had to be approved by the Arts Commission of the local council, which is responsible for the aesthetic quality of all new urban developments. This important bridge consists of multiple short span arches and a drawbridge span, over the navigable canal. The wide deck, carrying altogether six lanes of traffic, is supported on groups of four cylindrical posts, of reinforced concrete. Each of these posts rests on a number of fairly deeply driven prestressed concrete piles. The position of each of these was fixed by means of a timber guide, which mutually related the position of the various piles. After driving in all the piles, a concrete slab was constructed on top of them, which in turn supports the palissade of four posts. The whole operation was carried out within cofferdams built with sheetpiling. The construction of the deck was a straightforward operation, and only the drawbridge, supported on four hinges, involved certain difficulties owing to the need that these hinges be perfectly aligned at all times.