E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge
Encyclopedia
The E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge is a girder bridge
spanning the Yukon River
in Yukon–Koyukuk, Alaska
. The bridge carries both the Dalton Highway
and the Alaska Pipeline
in connecting Fairbanks
with Deadhorse
near the Arctic Ocean
and the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field
. Upon completion, the E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge became the first permanent bridge crossing of the Yukon River completed in Alaska, and remains as the only bridge crossing of the Yukon in Alaska today.
, a permanent crossing of the Yukon River
became necessary in order to complete the project. In December 1973, the state announced that it would begin accepting bids for the construction of the span. To be constructed as joint venture between the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
and the State of Alaska, the bridge was to be supported by tiers anchored to bedrock
beneath the river. At its highest point, the span would rise approximately 200 feet (61 m) above the river with its length changing by nearly 2 foot (0.6096 m) between the summer and winter months. A consortium
called Manson-Osberg-Ghemm was selected to construct the bridge with a bid of $31 million to be complete by December 1975.
With construction commencing in May 1974, in the following August the project suffered its only major construction delay with the failure of a cofferdam
. The cofferdam failed at its base where workers were working to set one of the concrete and steel bridge piers. The dams themselves had dimensions of 54 feet (16.5 m) wide by 38 feet (11.6 m) long with a depth of 37 feet (11.3 m).
Although still not yet complete, the bridge celebrated its ceremonial ribbon-cutting on October 10, 1975. At this time the bridge would remain under the control of Alyeska until the completion of the Alaska Pipeline, at which control of both the bridge and haul road would be turned over to the state. Although the bridge was incomplete at this time, Alyeska would be permitted to utilize the span thus eliminating the need to construct an ice bridge
that winter to transport materials across the river. The state issued its final use permit on October 30, 1975.
After both debate and litigation as to who would be allowed to use the haul road and bridge crossing, in October 1978 both were turned over to the state. In March 1982, the state officially named the bridge in honor of Edward Patton, former president of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company during construction of the pipeline.
s. The wooden deck has been replaced in 1981, 1992, 1999 and 2007.
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
spanning the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
in Yukon–Koyukuk, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. The bridge carries both the Dalton Highway
Dalton Highway
The James W. Dalton Highway, usually Dalton Highway is a 414-mile road in Alaska. It begins at the Elliott Highway, north of Fairbanks, and ends at Deadhorse near the Arctic Ocean and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields...
and the Alaska Pipeline
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System , includes the Trans Alaska Pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the Valdez Marine Terminal. TAPS is one of the world's largest pipeline systems...
in connecting Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
with Deadhorse
Deadhorse, Alaska
Deadhorse is an unincorporated community in North Slope Borough, Alaska, United States, along the North Slope near the Arctic Ocean. The town consists mainly of facilities for the workers and companies that operate at the nearby Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Deadhorse is accessible via the Dalton Highway...
near the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field
Prudhoe Bay oil field
Prudhoe Bay Oil Field is a large oil field on Alaska's North Slope. It is the largest oil field in both the United States and in North America, covering and originally containing approximately of oil.. BP. August 2006...
. Upon completion, the E. L. Patton Yukon River Bridge became the first permanent bridge crossing of the Yukon River completed in Alaska, and remains as the only bridge crossing of the Yukon in Alaska today.
History
As part of construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline SystemTrans-Alaska Pipeline System
The Trans Alaska Pipeline System , includes the Trans Alaska Pipeline, 11 pump stations, several hundred miles of feeder pipelines, and the Valdez Marine Terminal. TAPS is one of the world's largest pipeline systems...
, a permanent crossing of the Yukon River
Yukon River
The Yukon River is a major watercourse of northwestern North America. The source of the river is located in British Columbia, Canada. The next portion lies in, and gives its name to Yukon Territory. The lower half of the river lies in the U.S. state of Alaska. The river is long and empties into...
became necessary in order to complete the project. In December 1973, the state announced that it would begin accepting bids for the construction of the span. To be constructed as joint venture between the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
The Alyeska consortium refers to the major oil companies that own and operate the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System through the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.-History:...
and the State of Alaska, the bridge was to be supported by tiers anchored to bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
beneath the river. At its highest point, the span would rise approximately 200 feet (61 m) above the river with its length changing by nearly 2 foot (0.6096 m) between the summer and winter months. A consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
called Manson-Osberg-Ghemm was selected to construct the bridge with a bid of $31 million to be complete by December 1975.
With construction commencing in May 1974, in the following August the project suffered its only major construction delay with the failure of a cofferdam
Cofferdam
A cofferdam is a temporary enclosure built within, or in pairs across, a body of water and constructed to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment for the major work to proceed...
. The cofferdam failed at its base where workers were working to set one of the concrete and steel bridge piers. The dams themselves had dimensions of 54 feet (16.5 m) wide by 38 feet (11.6 m) long with a depth of 37 feet (11.3 m).
Although still not yet complete, the bridge celebrated its ceremonial ribbon-cutting on October 10, 1975. At this time the bridge would remain under the control of Alyeska until the completion of the Alaska Pipeline, at which control of both the bridge and haul road would be turned over to the state. Although the bridge was incomplete at this time, Alyeska would be permitted to utilize the span thus eliminating the need to construct an ice bridge
Ice bridge
An ice bridge is a frozen natural structure formed over seas, bays, rivers or lake surfaces. They facilitate migration of animals or people over a water body that was previously uncrossable by terrestrial animals, including humans. The most significant ice bridges are formed by glaciation, spanning...
that winter to transport materials across the river. The state issued its final use permit on October 30, 1975.
After both debate and litigation as to who would be allowed to use the haul road and bridge crossing, in October 1978 both were turned over to the state. In March 1982, the state officially named the bridge in honor of Edward Patton, former president of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company during construction of the pipeline.
Description
The bridge has a length of 2295 feet (699.5 m) and a width of 30 feet (9.1 m). The driving surface of the span is of timber construction supported by a steel deck attached to a pair of steel box girderBox girder
A box or tubular girder is a girder that forms an enclosed tube with multiple walls, rather than an or H-beam. Originally constructed of riveted wrought iron, they are now found in rolled or welded steel, aluminium extrusions or pre-stressed concrete....
s. The wooden deck has been replaced in 1981, 1992, 1999 and 2007.