The Veterans Memorial Bridge is a 9440 ft. structure crossing the Veterans Memorial on State Highway 87, located in Jefferson County near Port Arthur, Texas. The bridge consists of conventional slab and girder construction on the approaches with a precast concrete box cable-stay main unit over the river crossing. The main cable-stay unit consists of five spans in its completed configuration. The bridge was opened to service in September 1991.

During the routine biennial inspection of the Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1995, cracking was observed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) inspectors on the inside and side faces of the anchorage zone pier diaphragm of both spans of the main cable-stay unit. The cracking observed by TxDOT inspectors apparently was inconsistent with the expected cracking in post-tensioned anchorage zones. 

WDP evaluated the observed cracking and prepared a retrofit repair. An on-site investigation was conducted and several structural analyses were performed utilizing strut-and-tie and finite element modeling techniques. 

As a result of the evaluation, WDP concluded that pier segment diaphragms were inadequately reinforced for general anchorage zone bursting stresses produced by the longitudinal post-tensioning. 

WDP developed a repair strengthening strategy that utilizes the capacity of the existing diaphragms in conjunction with new retrofit concrete. Repair plans and specifications were prepared by WDP. As part of the repair process, WDP performed a pachometer survey to locate existing reinforcing steel and transverse post-tensioning steel to avoid interference with the retrofit construction. 
 
 

Services WDP used on this project included: 

• Structural Analysis
• Retrofit Repair of Cracking 
• Strut & Tie/Finite Element Modeling
• Developed Repair Strengthening Strategy
• Pachometer Survey
• Failure Investigation