Harry Nice Bridge Geotechnical Instrumentation Case Study-Video

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Video Summary

Foundation Test Group presented its geotechnical instrumentation work during construction of the new Harry Nice Bridge, built alongside the aging Potomac River crossing. Nearby pile driving and embankment fills posed risks to the existing bridge, so the team monitored movement, settlement, strain, tilt, and vibration using more than 120 prisms, inclinometers, settlement plates, and other instruments.<br /><br />Despite pandemic-related supply and access challenges, the team established baseline monitoring and coordinated closely with engineers and contractors. Most of the old bridge remained stable, while monitoring identified expected embankment settlement and localized lateral soil movement near the Virginia abutment. When measurements exceeded design expectations, construction paused for evaluation and safely resumed after the area was confirmed stable. Instrumentation also helped assess whether concrete placement and nearby pile driving could proceed simultaneously.<br /><br />The project demonstrated the value of combining multiple monitoring methods, interpreting trends rather than isolated alerts, and adapting instrumentation and thresholds to changing construction conditions.

Keywords

geotechnical instrumentation

Harry Nice Bridge

construction monitoring

embankment settlement

pile driving

bridge stability