Project Description
The newly completed State Route 1 Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—a vital link between Big Sur and other communities in Monterey County (Caltrans District 5) – was damaged beyond repair from a landslide due to heavy rains which began in early January 2017. Through innovative design and collaboration, the new $24 million single-span bridge was built and opened to the public in 8 months when a project of this magnitude would normally take 8 years. Due to the severe impact to the community of losing this bridge, Caltrans was able to accelerate the project by ordering the steel in advance, accelerating the design, and using an innovative way to “launch” the assembled steel girder bridge into place.
This national, multi-award-winning bridge was recognized as an Accelerated Bridge Construction project—new to California and the Big Sur Community. Constructing the actual structure across the canyon presented unique challenges: working across the deep canyon, dealing with an active landslide, and needing to complete construction quickly. Dozens of bridge workers worked long hours, 6-7 days a week, to complete the project. The structure features fifteen 62-ton steel girders (fabricated in Vallejo) that span the rugged 310-foot canyon. Eliminating structural vulnerability to future slide activity, the design avoids use of support columns. The new bridge includes 12-foot lanes and 5-foot outside shoulders, making it accessible for all travelers.
Speakers:
Bob Riggins, Jr., MNS Engineers
Assistant Structures Representative
Bob Riggins is a highly experienced, hands-on professional construction manager, assistant structures representative and inspector with over 32 years of heavy bridge and highway project experience. In addition to construction management and inspection, Bob has worked as a project superintendent and project manager for private contractors on numerous bridge and freeway projects throughout California, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. Bob acted as the Assistant Structures Representative on the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Emergency Replacement Project and was responsible for the daily planning, inspection and coordination with the contractor onsite. Some of his most notable projects include the Salinas River Bridge Widening and Prunedale Improvement projects for Caltrans District 5, the historical restoration of the Hassayampa steel truss bridge for Yavapai County in Arizona, and the Twin Bridges on Interstate 5 over the South Umpqua River for the Oregon Department of Transportation.
When not at work, Bob and his wife love to travel. Part of traveling includes riding their motorcycles across the country thousands of miles each year along with their dog and visiting national parks and historical sites.
David Galarza, PE, Caltrans
Structures Representative, D5 North
David Galarza graduated from Cal Poly with a BS in Architectural Engineering. Upon graduation he worked for medium sized A&E firms, including the Watry Group and Faye Bernstein and Assoc. where he collaborated on the design of several post-tensioned parking structures, the San Francisco International Airport ART system, the seismic retrofit of several historic buildings in San Francisco, and several Caltrans bridge phase 1 seismic retrofits. In 1998 he had the opportunity to work for Caltrans as a consulting assistant Structure Representative, inspecting and administering bridge construction contracts along the Cabrillo Highway in Monterey County. He enjoyed the field work so much he left the private sector and pursued his career with Caltrans as a Structure Representative in northern District 5. Over the past 20 years, he has worked on a multitude of maintenance, new construction, and retrofit projects. Some of his most notable projects include: San Miguel Canyon O/C, US 101/156 Interchange, Highway 1/17 Merge Lanes, North Soledad Overhead Emergency Response, Prunedale Improvement Project, Mal Paso Electrochemical Chloride Extraction, Route 68 Salinas River Bridge Seismic Retrofit / Widening, and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Emergency Replacement Project.
In his spare time, David enjoys family activities in the Monterey area including mountain bike riding, hiking, and going to the beach.
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The newly completed State Route 1 Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge—a vital link between Big Sur and other communities in Monterey County (Caltrans District 5) – was damaged beyond repair from a landslide due to heavy rains which began in early January 2017. Through innovative design and collaboration, the new $24 million single-span bridge was built and opened to the public in 8 months when a project of this magnitude would normally take 8 years. Due to the severe impact to the community of losing this bridge, Caltrans was able to accelerate the project by ordering the steel in advance, accelerating the design, and using an innovative way to “launch” the assembled steel girder bridge into place.
This national, multi-award-winning bridge was recognized as an Accelerated Bridge Construction project—new to California and the Big Sur Community. Constructing the actual structure across the canyon presented unique challenges: working across the deep canyon, dealing with an active landslide, and needing to complete construction quickly. Dozens of bridge workers worked long hours, 6-7 days a week, to complete the project. The structure features fifteen 62-ton steel girders (fabricated in Vallejo) that span the rugged 310-foot canyon. Eliminating structural vulnerability to future slide activity, the design avoids use of support columns. The new bridge includes 12-foot lanes and 5-foot outside shoulders, making it accessible for all travelers.
Speakers:
Bob Riggins, Jr., MNS Engineers
Assistant Structures Representative
Bob Riggins is a highly experienced, hands-on professional construction manager, assistant structures representative and inspector with over 32 years of heavy bridge and highway project experience. In addition to construction management and inspection, Bob has worked as a project superintendent and project manager for private contractors on numerous bridge and freeway projects throughout California, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. Bob acted as the Assistant Structures Representative on the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Emergency Replacement Project and was responsible for the daily planning, inspection and coordination with the contractor onsite. Some of his most notable projects include the Salinas River Bridge Widening and Prunedale Improvement projects for Caltrans District 5, the historical restoration of the Hassayampa steel truss bridge for Yavapai County in Arizona, and the Twin Bridges on Interstate 5 over the South Umpqua River for the Oregon Department of Transportation.
When not at work, Bob and his wife love to travel. Part of traveling includes riding their motorcycles across the country thousands of miles each year along with their dog and visiting national parks and historical sites.
David Galarza, PE, Caltrans
Structures Representative, D5 North
David Galarza graduated from Cal Poly with a BS in Architectural Engineering. Upon graduation he worked for medium sized A&E firms, including the Watry Group and Faye Bernstein and Assoc. where he collaborated on the design of several post-tensioned parking structures, the San Francisco International Airport ART system, the seismic retrofit of several historic buildings in San Francisco, and several Caltrans bridge phase 1 seismic retrofits. In 1998 he had the opportunity to work for Caltrans as a consulting assistant Structure Representative, inspecting and administering bridge construction contracts along the Cabrillo Highway in Monterey County. He enjoyed the field work so much he left the private sector and pursued his career with Caltrans as a Structure Representative in northern District 5. Over the past 20 years, he has worked on a multitude of maintenance, new construction, and retrofit projects. Some of his most notable projects include: San Miguel Canyon O/C, US 101/156 Interchange, Highway 1/17 Merge Lanes, North Soledad Overhead Emergency Response, Prunedale Improvement Project, Mal Paso Electrochemical Chloride Extraction, Route 68 Salinas River Bridge Seismic Retrofit / Widening, and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge Emergency Replacement Project.
In his spare time, David enjoys family activities in the Monterey area including mountain bike riding, hiking, and going to the beach.
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