H. A. Spalding Engineers, Inc.

    Sacramento - Calhoun Bridge (KY 81)

    McLean County, Kentucky

H. A. Spalding Engineers, Inc. provided the location and design of the bridge approaches on both sides of the Green River.  Each of these approaches is approximately 3/8 mile in length through the urban areas of Rumsey and Calhoun, with curb and gutter on the Calhoun side.  The new bridge is 1135 feet long and 40 feet wide.  The river is spanned from overbank to overbank using a 492 foot overhead truss.  In many instances when the river was running full, tows and barges go over the dam to bypass the lock below the bridge.  To navigate the lock and dam area below the bridge safely at all stages of river flow all piers were constructed at or back of the tree line along the riverbank.  Extensive hydrologic and hydraulic studies were completed to facilitate the bridge design.  These studies included scour and bank stability analysis, determination of the 2, 10, 50, 100 and 500-year water surface profiles, and floodway analysis for the 100-year event.  The surveying requirements for the hydraulic analysis included stream profiling and numerous cross sections.  Additional hydrologic modeling and hydraulic design on this project included the storm sewer design in the curb and gutter section of the Calhoun approach. Transportation Cabinet personnel completed the structural design and the picture on the left currently appears on the Division of Bridge Design’s web page.  The estimated construction cost was $8.39 million and construction was completed ahead of schedule in the spring of 2000.

H. A. Spalding Engineers, Inc.

651 Skyline Drive

Hazard, Ky. 41701

Ph. 606-436-2151

Fax. 606-436-2291