2006 Bridge

Mine Area 1 Bridge Overpass
Coteau Properties Company – Mercer County

Owner: The Coteau Properties Company	Supplier: Atlas Ready Mix
Engineer: Ulteig Engineers	Beams: Cretex West, Inc.
Contractor: Wanzek Construction

The Couteau Properties Company operates the Freedom Mine north of Beulah to produce lignite coal for use in the electrical generation industry. In order to maintain adequate coal supplies, it was necessary to obtain unrestricted access to their 17,050 acres of coal reserves on the opposite side of a county road, a railroad track and a gas transmission pipeline. The solution involved construction of a concrete bridge to allow unrestricted and safe transportation via coal hauler trucks to the coal consumption point.

The final design provided for the simultaneous passage of two 600-ton hauler trucks from one side to the other. The overpass is comprised of four spans with a total length of 287 feet. Prestressed I-beams (81inches in height at 6 foot centers) compose the main superstructure support system to a total width of 94 feet. With an 18 inch deck thickness and a 12 foot high side barrier, this structure is affectionately known locally as the “Mother of all Bridges”.

The uniqueness of the facility relates to its massive size, its location, and its appearance. The design allows it to blend into the surrounding landscape, enhancing its aesthetics and tempering its massive appearance to the onlooker.

We extend compliments to Ulteig Engineers for this award winning design and to Wanzek Construction for their great construction effort with suppliers Cretex West, Inc. and Atlas, Inc. Final construction materials for this Mother of All Bridges (MOAB) included 2.5 million pounds of rebar, 7,180 cubic yards of concrete and 4,480 feet of concrete I-beam.