Design and Construction of the Charenton Canal Bridge, Charenton, Louisiana

In 1999, the State of Louisiana completed construction of its first bridge using high performance concrete (HPC) for both the superstructure and the substructure. In this prototype bridge, high strength concrete was used in the prestressed concrete piles and girders. HPC was used in the pile caps, approach slabs, bridge deck, barrier rails, and wing walls. New specifications were developed for use with HPC. This paper contains a description of the design and construction of the bridge including the special provisions used for the HPC, mix proportions, and results achieved in construction. The successful construction of the bridge demonstrated that an HPC bridge can be designed and built in the State of Louisiana using local materials.