Abstract: An example method of expanding a highway have a multiple lanes passing under a highway overpass bridge having a center pier is described. The center pier may be between lanes passing in opposite directions. The center pier may be replaced with two replacement central piers having a gap there between. Additional lanes may be added through the gap between the replacement central piers. Various methods of construction and detailed designs for such bridges are also described.

Abstract: A magnetic bird screen for an access opening of a steel structure such as a bridge or the like includes a magnetic sheet sized to cover the access opening and overlap the steel structure entirely about the access opening so that the sheet is magnetically secured to the steel structure. The sheet has a plurality of spaced-apart holes sized sufficiently large to permit the passage of air and water therethrough and sized sufficiently small to prevent the passage of pigeons therethrough.

Abstract: A magnetic bird screen for an opening of a steel structure such as a bridge or the like includes a magnetic sheet sized to cover the access opening and at least partially overlap the steel structure at the opening so that the sheet is magnetically secured to the steel structure. The sheet has a plurality of spaced-apart holes sized sufficiently large to permit the passage of air and water therethrough and to be used as finger holes for installation and removal and sized sufficiently small to prevent the passage of pigeons therethrough. The sheet can be folded or rolled upon itself so that the sheet remains secured at one side of the opening or the sheet can be entirely removed when it is desired to have access through the opening.

Abstract: A cable suspended hermetic structure having a floor and walls combining with the undersurface of superstructure substructure such as a bridge forming an enclosure defining a workspace wherein one or more persons having access to the bridge substructure can work to repair and maintain said structure while containing the debris derived from said work within the enclosed structure and where applicable an external source of filtering air can be connected to the interior of the enclosure without comprising the hermetic nature of the enclosure.

Abstract: A movable safety tunnel rides on parapets within a bridge. The safety tunnel is locked in place in a respective section of the bridge while maintenance or other operations are performed on that section of the bridge. This allows the traffic to flow through the safety tunnel and along the bridge, and the safety tunnel shields the traffic from any dust or debris. When the maintenance on that respective section of the bridge has been completed, the safety tunnel is unlocked and pushed (and/or pulled) by suitable equipment to the next adjacent section of the bridge; and the safety tunnel is again locked in place as the maintenance is performed. This procedure continues, progressively, along the bridge. In one embodiment, the safety tunnel has a trolley system riding on respective rails constructed on top of the parapets.

Abstract: A movable safety tunnel rides on parapets within a bridge. The safety tunnel is locked in place in a respective section of the bridge while maintenance or other operations are performed on that section of the bridge. This allows the traffic to flow through the safety tunnel and along the bridge, and the safety tunnel shields the traffic from any dust or debris. When the maintenance on that respective section of the bridge has been completed, the safety tunnel is unlocked and pushed (and/or pulled) by suitable equipment to the next adjacent section of the bridge; and the safety tunnel is again locked in place as the maintenance is performed. This procedure continues, progressively, along the bridge. In one embodiment, the safety tunnel has a trolley system riding on respective rails constructed on top of the parapets.

Abstract: A movable safety tunnel rides on parapets within a bridge. The safety tunnel is locked in place in a respective section of the bridge while maintenance or other operations are performed on that section of the bridge. This allows the traffic to flow through the safety tunnel and along the bridge, and the safety tunnel shields the traffic from any dust or debris. When the maintenance on that respective section of the bridge has been completed, the safety tunnel is unlocked and pushed (and/or pulled) by suitable equipment to the next adjacent section of the bridge; and the safety tunnel is again locked in place as the maintenance is performed. This procedure continues, progressively, along the bridge. In one embodiment, the safety tunnel has a trolley system riding on respective rails constructed on top of the parapets.

Abstract: A bridge including a metal tubular space frame enclosed in a housing shell made principally from fibre reinforced plastics material which is maintenance free and protects the frame from corrosion. The upper surface of the housing shell forms a vehicular platform. The lower surface of the housing shell is of a curved aerodynamic shape and forms a load bearing access and maintenance platform. The space frame may include pre-stressing cables running alongside or inside elongate members of the space frame.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing a concrete made construction comprising the steps of provisionally disposing a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of a concrete made construction, forming holes at the lower surface of a concrete made construction, and inserting fixtures into the holes to fixate the reinforcement member onto the lower surface of a concrete made construction so that the fixture imparts tension force to the reinforcement member in a plane of the reinforcement member. For instance, a fixture includes a device for applying tension force to the reinforcement member in a plane thereof by moving at least a part of the fixture in a direction perpendicular to the reinforcement member. The invention ensures fixation of a reinforcement member onto a lower surface of a concrete made construction such as a bridge to which repeated live loads are always applied.

Abstract: This relates to a bridge stay formed by a cable (1) which itself is surrounded by a discontinuous sheath composed of identical successive tubular sections (4) having ends which fit together (at 9). This stay comprises an inextensible cablet (10) pulled taut along the cable, on the inside of the successive sheath sections, which cablet is fastened by equidistant fasteners (11), the number of fasteners being equal to that of the sheath sections, each fastener being fixed to a sheath section at a point on this section and the distance (D) between any two successive fasteners fastened to the cablet being equal to the distance between two identical points on two successive sheath sections, which distance is slightly less than the minimum distance envisageable for each section.

Abstract: An encapsulated cable for a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge, the cable (10) being encapsulated by a wrap (16) which is formed by spirally winding a flexible strand (S) of a synthetic rubber tightly therearound. The strand is wound with each wind thereof overlapping one-half the width of the preceding wind, thereby forming a uniform thickness, double layer wrap. After the spiral winding step the wrap is heated to heat seal the superimposed layers to one another to thereby seal the seam formed therebetween and shrink the wrap into tight engagement with the cable. The strand, specifically the outermost layer of a laminated multiple layer strand, is precolored with a suitable colorant to eliminate the need for after painting the wrap to obtain a suitable color match between it and adjacent portions of the bridge structure.

Abstract: A cover (1) for temporarily covering a trench, e.g. in a thoroughfare such as a road or footpath, by extending over, and resting on the ground on opposite sides respectively of the trench, the cover (1) being releasably engageable with other adjacent covers (1a and 1b) by means of male members (5 and 5b) mating with respective corresponding female members (6a and 6) in such a manner that when the covers (1, 1a and 1b) are engaged in a ground resting position to form an assembly (7) of covers, one cover (1b) of the assembly can be disengaged from the adjacent cover (1) only by moving the cover (1b) out of the general plane of the assembly.

Abstract: A modular overpass that uses interlockable roadway units. These interlockable units include ramp units adapted for fitting together to create entry and exit ramps having a low end and a raised end, cantilever units for attachment to the raised ends of the ramps, and suspended span units for joining the cantilever units. Flexible footings are provided to support the roadway units. The flexible footings comprise a resilient base, a covering cap sealably fitted over the base to define a cavity, and a packable bearing material partially filling the cavity. A system of pilings are used to anchor the roadway units in position. The system can be used to create an overpass over intersections between highways and secondary roads so that highway traffic travels over the overpass and local secondary road traffic is controlled by traffic lights. The modular overpass is shaped to conform to the existing highway surface and is supported on that surface by the flexible footings.

Abstract: A covered structure comprising a covered bridge and at least one covered entrance to said bridge is described. The covered bridge contains a bridge frame, a deck, a bridge enclosure framework disposed above the deck, means for connecting the bridge frame to the deck and the bridge enclosure framework, and a glass enclosure attached to the bridge enclosure framework. The bridge enclosure framework contains a multiplicity of vertical columns and a multiplicity of roof trusses.The vertical columns and roof trusses contain at least about 45 weight percent of inorganic fiber and, in addition, a resin and/or plastic material.

Abstract: The pour-in opening of the collection container of a garbage truck is provided with a shield which envelops the entire working area of the lifting/tilting or tilting device in the manner of a hood. Wall parts of the shield are movable singly or together and are moved into an operating position or a rest position by suitable power devices.