Commerce Boulevard’s Innovative Approach: Delivering a Corrugated Steel Plate Solution
The development of Commerce Boulevard in Canton, Georgia, presented a unique set of challenges, demanding an innovative corrugated steel plate solution. Specifically, a local private developer, while planning a new road servicing a burgeoning commercial area, hospital, and future residential zone, needed to expand road access. Moreover, they faced strict environmental constraints, requiring an intricate bridge replacement over a pre-existing creek. Consequently, it was imperative that the project maintained the natural topography of the land. Therefore, the team sought a solution that balanced functionality with ecological sensitivity through using a specialized steel plate approach.
Forging a Path: The Corrugated Steel Plate Design
Subsequently, to meet these demanding specifications, North Georgia Concrete collaborated with NCSPA Member Big R Bridge (now Contech Engineered Solutions). Together, they devised an efficient and cost-effective strategy utilizing corrugated structural steel plate for the design. In essence, these structural plate structures consist of carefully engineered corrugated steel sections bolted together, forming the desired shape. In particular, bridges constructed from structural steel plates prove ideal for grade separations and hydraulic applications, and furthermore, they typically offer quicker and more affordable installation compared to traditional methods. Accordingly, this choice proved pivotal for the Commerce Boulevard project requiring corrugated steel solutions.
Navigating the Winding Creek: A 420-Foot Bottomless Crossing
Specifically, the Commerce Boulevard project involved a 420-foot bottomless structural plate crossing, a significant undertaking. Additionally, the design incorporated seven elbows to meticulously follow the meandering path of the creek beneath the new roadway. Furthermore, the boulevard, a four-lane parkway complete with sidewalks, required a 40-foot cover depth, which in turn, increased the necessary culvert length. The structural sections featured a span of 20 feet and a rise of 10 feet, and a strategic use of corrugated steel plate solutions helped the project, including a 2:1 bevel at each end. Consequently, these dimensions ensured both structural integrity and hydraulic efficiency.
Savings and Sustainability: The Economic and Environmental Benefits
Ultimately, by implementing a structural plate arch design, as opposed to a conventional concrete structure, the project team achieved substantial cost savings for the owner, amounting to thousands of dollars in construction expenses. Moreover, by ensuring that the boulevard remained safely outside the creek banks and by preserving the waterway, the project team also mitigated environmental impact fees. Thus, this project stands as a testament to the remarkable strength and adaptability of corrugated steel pipe products, demonstrating their capacity to deliver cost-effective solutions for diverse design challenges. In conclusion, the project successfully delivered a corrugated steel plate solution.
Related Stories
Century Boulevard – 2014 Structural Plate Project of the Year
John Rolfe Square – 2017 Retention/ Detention Project of the Year
Eco-Friendly Military Access Roads: Deep Corrugated Buried Bridges Reduce Environmental Impact