Project Summary

Hoyle Tanner provided load rating services of the New Hampshire approach spans for the Interstate 95 High Level Bridge over the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. The New Hampshire approach has 19 spans ranging in length from 71’-8” to 112’-0” and has an overall length of 1810’-0”. Girders constructed on chorded segments created the horizontal curvature of the approach spans between tangent sections located at each end. Hinges consisting of a pin and link system are located within spans 5S, 9S, 14S and 16S. Only the exterior girders are continuous from the South Abutment to the South Anchor Pier. The interior girders are discontinuous with the number of girder lines being reduced at hinge locations. Since the overall bridge width and number of girder lines vary, the girder spacing varies along the length of the bridge. Analysis and load rating was performed using the MDX and MIDAS computer programs.