Structural Evaluation and Rehabilitation Design of Puente Blanco in Quebradillas

Abstract

Puente Blanco is an arch bridge located in the municipality of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico. This reinforced concrete structure, which dates from 1922,was initially designed and built as a railroad bridge but was later renovated to be used by automobiles. Over the years, the structure has suffered severe damage due to exposure to coastal environment and lack of maintenance, causing the bridge to be closed to automobiles. Using a structural engineering program, a model of the bridge was developed to evaluate its design under current standards. Using the results, a rehabilitation that included reinforcement replacement and carbon fiber application was designed. The estimated cost of implementing the design is $3,771,651.24. If this rehabilitation is not implemented, the historic bridge is at risk of collapsing. Key terms –historic bridge, steel reinforcement replacement