Saindon delivers presentation on award-winning bridge at Western Bridge Engineer’s Seminar

JACKSON, Miss. (Sept. 13, 2019) – Neel-Schaffer Senior Bridge Discipline Practice Leader Ken Saindon, PE, SE, recently made a presentation about an award-winning bridge he helped design that was opened for use in June 2018 in Idaho.  The project included many innovations such as advanced structural and geotechnical modeling, wind tunnel testing, consideration of contractor means/methods, and CMGC alternative delivery.

The new Manning Crevice Bridge carries Salmon River Road across the Salmon River in a picturesque canyon 14 miles east of Riggins, Idaho. Salmon River Road provides access to residences, resorts, and commercial rafting ventures, and is the main artery for recreational users of the river and forest lands.

 

Photo by Ken Saindon, PE, SE

 

Built on an adjacent alignment to the existing bridge, the Manning Crevice Bridge is a single tower, asymmetric, earth-anchored suspension bridge that has a span length of 300 feet. The original bridge was built in 1938 and had reached the end of its service life and required replacement. Construction cost for the new bridge was $9.64 million.  Ken served as the technical lead and Engineer-of-Record for the bridge.

Industry awards for the project include:

  • ACEC Idaho Engineering Excellence 2019 Award; First Place – Structural Systems
  • ENR Intermountain Best Project 2019 Winner; Small Project (Under $10M)

Ken and fellow team members Benn Oltmann (FHWA-WFLHD), Alex Whitney (HDR), and Jesse Webb (Idaho Transportation Department) gave two presentations about the design and construction challenges of the project during the Western Bridge Engineers’ Seminar that was held on September 4-6, 2019, in Boise, Idaho.

“The Manning Crevice Suspension bridge is a singularly unique and complex project,” said Ken. “From a design standpoint, the technical requirements demanded outside-the-box thinking to arrive at a functional, aesthetic solution that was constructible and minimized life-cycle cost.  I am pleased to have worked with such an enlightened owner in FHWA-Western Federal Lands Highway Division on this project.  This project brought out the best in everyone who was involved.”