Design of Florida Avenue Bridge Over the Inner Harbor Canal

The $210 million Florida Avenue Bridge project is being designed to provide reliable access between St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes over the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal (IHNC) in New Orleans, Louisiana. The project includes a 5-span high-level bridge over the IHNC with a 470-foot center span. Bridge type studies were completed to determine the most viable structure type. Both cast-in-place segmental concrete box girder and steel plate girder alternatives were selected for final design. This paper focuses on the design of the segmental concrete alternative. The superstructure consists of a variable depth twin-cell box girder that is supported by voided box column piers and steel HP piles. The bridge will be built with form travelers using the balanced cantilever method of construction.