The Southeast Extension, also known as the Complete 540 project, extends the Triangle Expressway from the NC 55 Bypass in Apex to US 64/US 264 (I-87) in Knightdale, completing the 540 Outer Loop around the greater Raleigh area. DRMP is providing specialty engineering services for the R-2828 Segment of the Complete 540 project, where the limits are from US 401 to I-40. DRMP’s specialty engineering expertise, specifically analysis services, were required for this project due to the unique lengths of the proposed bridge spans and girders.

The contractor proposed placing a concrete pump truck and concrete supply trucks on the first two spans of Structure 5A to complete the remaining two spans of the bridge. Additionally, the contractor proposed placing the concrete pump truck and concrete supply trucks on the last two spans of completed Structure 5A to perform deck pours for two spans of the adjacent bridge, Structure 5B. The dual bridges, Structures 5A and 5B, had trapezoidal spans to avoid wetlands, while allowing for future widening. This bridge layout caused each of the spans and the girders to have unique lengths. For this reason, analysis was required for both of the bridges.

Specialty engineering services included a concrete pump truck analysis, where DRMP is providing calculations/plans for placement of concrete pump trucks and supply trucks on bridge deck for top-down construction, as well as performing an out of tolerance pile analysis. Using the concrete pump truck for pouring the bridge decks allowed the contractor to move resources, (i.e. the trestle) to another bridge site on the project and reduce construction time. The ultimate project will link the Apex, Cary, Clayton, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Raleigh communities, while easing congestion on local area roadways.