Performance of Schuyler Heim Composite Bridge Deck Replacement: Port of Los Angeles, California

Details are given of the California Department of Transportation's first installation of fiber-reinforced polymer panels that are instrumented during the fabrication process for the replacement of existing fatigued open-grated steel deck panels. Open-grated steel decks have historically been used on movable bridges because they are lightweight. Unfortunately, more effort is required to maintain an acceptable skid resistance, and their ride quality is less than that of a solid deck. Once the deck begins to fail, it is not easily rehabilitated and usually must be replaced at significant cost. Schuyler Heim Bridge, Br. No. 53-2618, is one of those structures; it has an open-grated steel deck in its lift span that is rapidly failing, well before its expected service life. The deck requires replacement. The structure, which is located in District 7 on Route 47, post mile 4.0, crosses the Cerritos Channel of the Los Angeles Harbor. The development of lightweight composite materials presents a unique opportunity; these materials can provide the benefit of a deck with a solid roadway surface for bridge structures that need lightweight decks. This deck is to be used as an example in the development of specifications for the design of future deck-replacement projects. Therefore, the focus of the design should be to produce an economical deck using materials that are nonproprietary and readily available with component shapes that can be produced without exorbitant tooling costs. Instrumentation installed on the deck panels monitor for longer-term behavior. Load tests are conducted monthly to determine panel performance.