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RPL Truss Bridge

August 26, 2008 - 4:53pm — Robin Smith
RPL Truss Bridge - Hudson River Interpretive Trail
Project Overview: 
McLaren recently designed a single lane bridge at the Hudson River Interpretive Trail made entirely of recycled plastic lumber (RPL). The addition of this bridge at the park will permit improved access to the Hudson River side of the trail by hikers, visitors, and maintenance vehicles. The bridge has a 30-foot-long main span that crosses a tidal estuary.
McLaren's Role: 
McLaren engineers designed the RPL truss superstructure bridge. The structure is capable of supporting H-15 live load capacity. The recycled material used to construct the bridge is equivalent to 70,000 plastic one-gallon milk cartons. Design of a bowstring truss configuration represents an optimal use of the material. The bridge will be monitored over the next few years to evaluate the long-term behavior of the material and to confirm the algorithm used to prepare the design. McLaren was ultimately responsible for the design of bowstring truss bridge, construction supervision, and monitoring of the H-15 truckload deflection.
Service: 
Bridge Design
Service: 
Construction Administration
Service: 
Advanced Materials Application
Location: 
New Baltimore, NY
Client: 
New Baltimore Conservatory
Project Type: 
Bridge Design
Role: 
Prime
Contract Period: 
2000
Construction Cost: 
N/A
Image: 
13a RPL Truss Bridge.jpg

Location
New Baltimore, NY

Client
New Baltimore Conservatory

Our Role
Prime
Project Type
Bridge Design

Contract Period
2000

Construction Cost
N/A
Services
Bridge Design
Construction Administration
Advanced Materials Application