Bridges & Structures
Raising the Stakes
As the lead designer in a design joint venture on the Bayonne Bridge Navigational Project, our HDR project team partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to raise the clearance under the bridge to 215 feet within the existing arch span so larger ships could pass through. Such a complex project had never been attempted before, and the design earned an ACEC Grand Conceptor Award, given annually to the nation’s best overall engineering project.
Push Boundaries
Faced with environmental, aesthetic and traffic concerns in building a new bridge over the St. Croix River, we implemented a concrete extradosed design, just the second in the U.S. See how we blended the most serviceable aspects of both girder and cable-stay bridge structures in order to achieve our clients' goals and deliver the award-winning design.
Overcome Challenges
A highly dynamic environment can be a big design challenge. Learn more about how HDR engineers overcame Atlantic waves, currents and salt spray to construct the new Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in North Carolina, and see why the extensive use of precast concrete was the best way to construct this 2.8-mile, long-span, replacement bridge.
Bridge Services
We offer every bridge-related service you can think of and a few you might not.
Accelerated Bridge Construction
If the most important element for you is speed of construction in the field, we can figure out how to replace your bridges very quickly, perhaps in as little as a weekend.
Alternative Delivery
Meeting unique client needs often requires creative project delivery methods. Our bridge teams have partnered with clients to complete more than 50 design-build projects. We’ve served as program managers, managing both costs and risks in a results-oriented environment, used construction management/general contractor delivery methods, developed public-private partnerships and more — all in an effort to find the best approach to ensure success.
Asset Management/Load Rating
We conduct studies that measure the structural response of a bridge under a variety of load conditions to determine its structural integrity. This provides data to make informed decisions about asset management.
Bridge Architecture
Combining both art and science to bring form together with function, our bridge architects partner with our designers and our clients to develop and deliver solutions that achieve the community's vision.
Bridge Information Modeling
BrIM optimization lets us harness information at its origin to drive decisions, create better visualizations and improve communication between designers and contractors.
Bridge Inspection
Our experienced engineer/inspectors maintain certifications and qualifications to inspect and evaluate all types of bridges and tunnels as required by the Federal Highway Administration. Our staff is comprised of National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS)-certified Team Leaders, National Certified Tunnel Inspectors (NCTI) Team Leaders in accordance with the National Tunnel Inspection Standards (NTIS), Fracture Critical Member (FCM)-certified Team Leaders, Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT)-certified inspectors (Levels I, II and III), and American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT)-certified NDT Technicians (Levels 1 and 3). We continue to manage numerous bridge and tunnel inspection contracts for clients across the country, helping to maintain safe infrastructure for the traveling public.
Bridge Preservation
Our clients face significant challenges in addressing the needs of their aging infrastructure, including how to cost effectively preserve and maintain their bridges to support overall highway mobility. From repairing to retrofitting, we develop innovative designs and approaches for long-term preservation, and we assist our clients in making informed decisions in establishing infrastructure resiliency.
Seismic Retrofit
In regions where earthquakes are a concern, owners can modify existing structures to make them more resistant to seismic activity, ground motion or soil failure that can accompany earthquakes. We've led seismic retrofits of simple-span to long-span bridges, including some of the most recognizable in the U.S.
Transit
Different modes of transit have different bridge needs. We've designed client-driven solutions for pedestrians, streetcars, light rail, buses and more.
Meet Our People
Award-Winning Work
Part modern marvel and part practical mobility solution, the SR 520 floating bridge on the east side of Seattle enables multiple modes of land-based transportation to simultaneously cross Washington state's second-largest natural lake. The span, now the world’s longest floating bridge, was honored in 2017 with an ACEC Grand Conceptor Award as the nation's best overall engineering achievement.
Join Our Team
We're always looking for talented bridge designers and engineers to join our award-winning team.