Fee Fee Road Bridge, Maryland Heights, Missouri
The Challenge
Replacement of a bridge on Fee Fee Road in Maryland Heights, Missouri required relocation of a small stream channel. Steve Gough was given the task of geomorphic assessment and conceptual design. His design for the previously channelized reach included three meander bends and hydraulic energy management using grade control structures. Steve’s design was particularly innovative in shifting an existing knickpoint upstream to greatly improve hydraulic capacitythrough the bridge and solve a seemingly intractable conveyance problem. His design also included composite revetments and a two-stage channel. This is perhaps the first use of a two-stage channel under a bridge in the midwestern United States. The design has performed very well through a 10-year event and its environmental and aesthetic valuesare a point of pride for the City. Steve also provided pre-construction survey and stakeout, close supervision of construction, and as builtsurveys.
The St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded Steve its Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for this project.
Clients/Cooperators:
The City of Maryland Heights, Missouri, Intuition &Logic, R&R Finish Grading
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The figure at left shows Steve's design for the Fee Fee Road Bridge within the City of Maryland Heights, Missouri. The design includes grade controls, composite revetment, a constructed floodplain,and joint staking. An existing knickpoint at the site was reworked to solve serious hydraulic capacity problems.
The bridge site shortly after construction and planting in early Spring, 2000.
The same site in May, 2001 after one full growing season and a 10-year flood event.
The bridge site in May, 2003, after three growing seasons and several large floods.
The site in May 2006. Aside from some watering during thefirst growing season, the site has required no maintenance.