Contents

Features

38  Crossing the Narrows

    By Thomas Spoth, P. E., M. ASCE, Ben Whisler, P. E., M. ASCE, and Tim Moore, P. E., S. E.

       The design of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, in Washington State, benefits not only from the knowledge that has been gained about the aerodynamics of suspension bridges in the years since the first suspension bridge across the narrows collapsed—in 1940 just four months after its opening—but also from the design/ build delivery method, which enabled the design team to incorporate innovations in an efficient and cost-effective manner that might not have been possible otherwise.

48  Modular Mooring

       By Markus Wernli, Ph. D., P. E., and Preston S. Springton

       To reduce the costs associated eith waterfront construction and maintenance, the U. S. Navy has developed an alternative pier—the modular hybrid pier (MHP)—that features a double-deck floating concrete structure. The MHP consists of a series of uniform modules constructed of advanced materials and developed in accordance with the principles of sustainable design.

56  Capitol Achievement

       By Jeff L. Brown.

       Updating Virginia’s capitol building to meet the needs of a 21^st-century government while preserving the historic structure for future generations required a delicate balancing act. The project succeeded not only in renovating and restoring Thomas Jefferson’s original building but also in adding a spacious underground visitors’ center.

66  Small Footprint, Big Promise

By Thomas E. Vik, P. E., BCEE, and Mark Surwillo

Faced with population growth, increasingly large wet-weather flows and stricter permit limits on ammonia nitrogen, a Wisconsin wastewater treatment facility adopted ballasted sedimentation for primary treatment and peak flows followed by biological aerated filtration for secondary treatment. Believed to be the first of its kind in the United Sates, this high-rate configuration requires a fraction of the space that would have been taken up by conventional treatment systems and is expected to handily meet all permit requirements.

Departments

6　Letters

8　Polity Briefing

10　Civil Engineering News

       Gusset plate problems

       Crystalline structure

       Walls of water

       Bridges replaced

       Island city

       Saving a bay

       Permits in jeopardy

Runway reconfigured

Seismic upgrades averted

Observation whell

       News Briefs

32      Technology

34  History Lesson

37　Editor’s Note

74　Books

88　The Law