PROJECT

Merchants Bridge Replacement

Our team provided design and environmental services for the replacement of the Merchants Bridge main span over the Mississippi River, including foundation repairs.

The bridge, built in 1889, carries five Class I railroads. The double-track structure has three main truss spans of 520 feet each that were replaced. In addition, the unreinforced masonry piers had been significantly scoured and did not provide AREMA-level seismic resistance.

During the 30% design phase, the project team studied several scenarios: open deck and ballasted deck options, E80 and E90 live loading, various truss panel configurations, truss float-in scenarios, seismic resistance of existing foundations, seismic retrofit schemes, seismic isolation bearings, and barge vessel collision analysis.

Final design of the three new 520-foot truss spans included strengthening of the existing masonry foundations to withstand seismic and barge collision events, as well as a combination of float-in, lifting spans with strand-jacks, and lateral slide-into-place.

Client

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis

Location

St. Louis, Missouri

Region

Midwest

Services

Bridges

Rail

Industry

Transportation

Case Study

Merchants Rail Bridge Project in St. Louis Succeeds With Detailed Engineering and Precise Construction Planning

The historic Merchants Bridge in St. Louis has been a vital link for rail traffic since it first opened in 1889. However, by the early 2010s, years of...

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Agency Coordination for Environmental Documentation

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

State historic preservation offices

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Illinois Department of Natural Resources