Newsroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brendi Rawlin, Limelight Public Relations, (619) 549-3066
South Bay Expressway's Otay River Bridge:
Engineering Wonder & International Gateway
Erection of Final Segment Marks Construction Milestone as Expressway Moves Closer to Summer Debut
(SAN DIEGO - March 28, 2007) - This afternoon, the last segment of South Bay Expressway's Otay River Bridge will be erected -- a significant milestone in the construction of the highly anticipated 10-mile express toll road opening this Summer.
Construction of the Otay River Bridge is a remarkable engineering feat. It is what engineers call a "precast segmental bridge," and there is only one other like it in California: the San Francisco-Oakland East Bay Skyway Bridge, currently under construction. At three-quarters of a mile long and, at its peak, nearly 19 stories tall, the four-lane Otay River Bridge will take South Bay travel to new heights as it connects communities and businesses across the South Bay to Otay Mesa and the International Border.
"The Otay River Bridge is more than just an engineering feat; it's an international gateway," said South Bay Expressway CEO Greg Hulsizer. "The bridge will improve regional mobility by filling a gap in San Diego's freeway system and will provide a new, convenient connection for businesses across eastern Chula Vista and Otay Mesa to employment centers across the border."
Located at the southern end of the Expressway, the bridge plays a crucial role as it spans a major geographic obstacle (the Otay River) opening up a new north-south transportation corridor (Interstates 5 and 805 are the other two).
Fun Bridge Facts
- The Otay River Bridge is nearly 3/4 of a mile long and 75 feet wide, enough to carry four lanes of traffic. Typical spans between columns are 300 feet long, or one football field each.
- It is made of post-tensioned concrete, where the concrete is squeezed by high-strength steel strands to prevent cracks.
- The construction technique is called "Precast Segmental", where the precast segments are cast off site and delivered to the bridge to be assembled.
- The precast segmental technique allows the deck to be built "top-down", and minimizes the environmental impact of the project.
- This will be the first precast segmental bridge to open to traffic in California, and is designed to withstand large earthquake forces.
- There are a total of 640 segments that make up the bridge.
- Each segment weighs between 60 and 70 tons. A Ford F150 weighs about 3 tons.
- The segments are cast in a facility in Perris, California, approximately 90 miles north of the project site.
- The segments are lifted into place by a steel erection gantry, which was manufactured in Italy and shipped to the site.
- The segments are erected using a "balanced cantilever method" which minimizes the construction loads applied to the columns.
- There is a total of 470 miles of post-tensioning strand, enough to reach from San Diego to San Francisco.
- Each strand is strong enough to support 30 tons, the weight of a fully loaded concrete mixer truck.
- The tallest column is 190 feet (19 stories) from foundation to deck.
- Each pair of columns rests on a rectangular pile cap, which is 75 feet wide, 50 feet long and 10 feet thick, and took more than 100 concrete trucks to pour.
For fact sheets and photos on the Otay River Bridge, please contact Brendi Rawlin with Limelight Public Relations at 619-549-3066.
About South Bay Expressway
South Bay Expressway is a 10-mile express toll road that will run from SR 54 in Spring Valley to SR 905 near the International Border Crossing. With the opening anticipated for Summer 2007, this exciting, new transportation alternative promises a fast, reliable and scenic drive, every time. The new connection will connect the growing communities across eastern Chula Vista and provide convenient access to Downtown, Sorrento Valley, I-8, I-15 North, Otay Mesa and Mexico. The construction of this first class express toll road is being made possible through an innovative public/private partnership, and is one of the first roads of its kind in California and the U.S.
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