Orange County Branch Newsletter

October 2013

Younger Member Forum

YMF – Schuyler Heim Bridge Replacement Tour


By: Remi Candaele

OC YMF would like to thank Mr. Hammer Sui (Caltrans) and Amber Falk (Arcadis) for the great opportunity to tour the Schuyler Heim Bridge Replacement. Sixteen individuals participated in the successful tour on Friday, September 20, 2013. The Schuyler Heim Bridge is located between Ocean Boulevard and ¼ mile south of State Route 103 in the cities of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Hammer Sui welcomed us in the Caltrans construction trailer with an insightful presentation of the $350+ million replacement project. The group then headed successively to the north side and south side of the bridge, which was originally built in 1946.  Hammer shared several reasons for replacing the bridge, including: the existing lift-span bridge will be replaced by a fixed span structure that will conform to higher seismic standards, enhancing safety; the implementation of a permanent navigable channel that is 180 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 47 feet to allow for the passage of ships. In addition, attendees learned that the effects of oil pumping created a subsidence of 10+ feet over the years. Mr. Sui shared several challenges posed by a construction in a port environment, including dealing with sea lions, passing ships and waterways regulation, and a heavy ground transportation system to maintain. The tour concluded with a festive lunch at the Chowder Barge restaurant that is located on docks. Amber Falk presented on the ASCE Construction Institute and shared the great benefits of getting involved with the Institute. Since the bridge will reach completion in 2017, OC YMF will look at organizing another technical tour of this massive project at a later phase of construction.

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