Lauridsen Boulevard Bridge Replacement
City of Port Angeles
Port Angeles, Washington
This project delivered a high-priority element of the City’s long-range transportation plan to divert truck traffic away from the downtown core and improve mobility to the Olympic National Park. As prime consultant, Exeltech provided project management, civil and structural engineering design, environmental permitting, and construction management services for this bridge replacement project on Lauridsen Boulevard. The project included demolition of the existing structure; design of a new bridge with foundations using 3-ft-diameter shafts; abutment construction; installation of a 144-ft prestressed girder; concrete deck and railing construction; soldier pile walls with and without tiebacks; structural earth walls; moment slabs with traffic barrier; and bridge approach connections. Exeltech’s design of a shorter bridge with combined retaining wall/abutment addressed the site challenges collectively while reducing the project costs by 20 percent.
Civil engineering included preliminary design for a roundabout at the intersection of Lauridsen Boulevard with both Lincoln and Laurel Streets. Exeltech also designed stormwater management for detention and water quality; developed traffic control and construction staging plans; and coordinated utility relocation to include overhead power, water, and gas.
The Lauridsen Bridge is located over Peabody Creek, a trout- and salmon-bearing stream that drains from the Olympic Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Through the urbanized areas of Port Angeles, the stream was lacking in large woody material to retain sediments needed for fish spawning and rearing pools. Exeltech developed the habitat enhancement plan and worked directly with the Contractor to implement the plan to ensure proper placement of restoration materials.
The project was honored with the 2015 ACEC Washington Best in State Silver Engineering Excellence Award (Originality/Innovation).