The Walsh-VINCI Joint Venture building the Midwest’s largest bridge has chosen a Leica Geosystems TS15 Robotic Total Station for design and construction survey work.
(Norcross, Ga., 10 May 2013) The Ohio River’s new East End Bridge, which will link Kentucky and Indiana segments of I-265 near Louisville, Kentucky, will be using a Leica Geosystems TS15 Robotic Total Station for design and construction survey work, and a Leica HDS7000 laser scanner for tunnel profiling. The purchase decision was made by Bryan Nicholson, survey manager for the project.
The East End Bridge is part of the Ohio River Bridges Project, which will improve transportation and commuting in the Louisville metro area with two new bridges and reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange—it is believed to be the largest transportation infrastructure project happening in the Midwest. It will be the first of the two bridges to be completed, and project costs will be about $760 million. “When completed, this will be the largest bridge in the Midwest,” said Nicholson. “The main span will be 1,200 feet, with approach spans of 540 feet on each side.” The bridge will also feature two convex diamond towers rising 300 feet above the river, a total of four lanes (with room for two additional lanes if needed), and a 13-foot pedestrian and bicycle path. The cable-stayed bridge design has been praised for its aesthetic appeal and structural efficiency, and incorporates soft edges and warm gray tones that complement nearby stone bluffs.
Nicholson made the decision to use the Leica Geosystems instrument based on the requirements of this project, and also based on his experience as survey manager for the Hoover Dam Bypass, one of this century’s most visually spectacular and technically accomplished bridge project. “I used a Leica TCRP1201+ on the Hoover Dam Bypass, and I’m looking forward to using the TS15 in Kentucky,” said Nicholson. “It’s a precise, one-second instrument, which is important in bridge work, and I know that it’s reliable.”
Alex Cherchian, Leica’s Regional Geomatics Representative, said, “We know Bryan is a very skilled and experienced bridge surveyor, so we’re honored that he chose our equipment for this showcase project. At the same time, we know that the TS15 is a great instrument that will do a fantastic job on the East End Bridge, just as it did on the Hoover Dam Bypass.”
The East End Bridge project is now in final design phases, and construction has technically begun with construction occurring on some road extensions. The completed bridge is scheduled to be open for traffic in October, 2016.
Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right
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