Tennessee State Route 50 Bridge Over Happy Hollow Creek

At 1175 ft 2V-2 in. (358 m), the structure carrying State Route 50 over Happy Hollow Creek is the longest totally jointless, integral abutment bridge constructed in the United States. The structure is a nine-span precast, prestressed concrete AASHTO 72 in. (1829 mm) bulb-tee girder bridge with composite concrete deck. The bridge spans are designed as simply supported for the dead loads of the girder and deck slab hut the structure is continuous for live loads and composite dead loads. As a result of the design, the bridge is virtually maintenance free, containing neither expansion bearings nor joints to maintain. This article describes the major features of the bridge and discusses the design concept used in attaining a jointless bridge deck with integral ahutments.