Bridge system and method including four sided concrete bridge units adapted for promoting sedimentation

1. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

a plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units in abutting relationship to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units includes: spaced apart side walls interconnected by a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated precast concrete beams extending from one side wall to the other side wall and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge unit to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side wall to the other side wall to provide full span connectivity between the pathway tunnel and the underlying ground along each elongated through-opening, each elongated precast concrete beam having a bottom side that is in a common plane with a bottom surface of each of the side walls so as to aid in transferring load to ground below the bridge unit, wherein at least one elongated precast concrete beam has a configuration that is different than a configuration of another one of the elongated precast concrete beams;

wherein at least forty percent of the bottom configuration of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units is open;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one elongated precast concrete beam has a depth that is greater than a depth of another one of the elongated precast concrete beams;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one elongated precast concrete beam includes a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members, at least one sedimentation member having a height that is different than a height of another sedimentation member, each sedimentation member having a height that is between about ten percent and about twenty-seven percent of a clear height of the pathway tunnel at top dead center, each gap between the sedimentation members is between about six percent and about twelve percent of a span of the pathway tunnel, a center-to-center spacing between adjacent sedimentation members is between about twelve percent and about seventeen percent of the span of the pathway tunnel, and sedimentation members located toward the side walls have heights that are greater than heights of sedimentation members located centrally along the span of the pathway tunnel;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one of the elongated precast concrete beams lacks any sedimentation members, such that a depthwise center-to-center spacing along the pathway tunnel between elongated precast concrete beams having sedimentation members is between about thirty percent and about seventy percent of the span of the pathway tunnel; and

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, a first one of the elongated precast concrete beams at one end of the bridge unit lacks any sedimentation members and a second one of the elongated precast beams at an opposite end of the bridge unit includes sedimentation members, and the plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units are arranged such that, in the case of adjacent bridge units, the first elongated precast concrete beam of one bridge unit abuts the second elongated precast concrete beam of the other bridge unit.

2. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

a plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units in abutting relationship to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units includes:

spaced apart side walls interconnected by a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated precast concrete beams extending from one side wall to the other side wall and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge unit to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side wall to the other side wall to provide full span connectivity between the pathway tunnel and the underlying ground along each elongated through-opening, each elongated precast concrete beam having a bottom side that is in a common plane with a bottom surface of each of the side walls so as to aid in transferring load to ground below the bridge unit, wherein at least one elongated precast concrete beam has a configuration that is different than a configuration of another one of the elongated precast concrete beams;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one elongated precast concrete beam includes a plurality of upwardly-projecting and fixed sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one of the elongated precast concrete beams lacks any sedimentation members, such that a depthwise center-to-center spacing along the pathway tunnel between elongated precast concrete beams having sedimentation members is between about thirty percent and about seventy percent of a span of the pathway tunnel.

3. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

a plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units in abutting relationship to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units includes:

spaced apart side walls interconnected by a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated precast concrete beams extending from one side wall to the other side wall and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge unit to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side wall to the other side wall to provide full span connectivity between the pathway tunnel and the underlying ground along each elongated through-opening, each elongated precast concrete beam having a bottom side that is in a common plane with a bottom surface of each of the side walls so as to aid in transferring load to ground below the bridge unit, wherein at least one elongated precast concrete beam has a configuration that is different than a configuration of another one of the elongated precast concrete beams;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one elongated precast concrete beam includes a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, a first one of the elongated precast concrete beams at one end of the bridge unit lacks any sedimentation members and a second one of the elongated precast beams at an opposite end of the bridge unit includes sedimentation members, and the plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units are arranged such that, in the case of adjacent bridge units, the first elongated precast concrete beam of one bridge unit abuts the second elongated precast concrete beam of the other bridge unit.

4. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

a plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units in abutting relationship to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units includes:

spaced apart side walls interconnected by a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated precast concrete beams extending from one side wall to the other side wall and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge unit to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side wall to the other side wall to provide full span connectivity between the pathway tunnel and the underlying ground along each elongated through-opening, each elongated precast concrete beam having a bottom side that is in a common plane with a bottom surface of each of the side walls so as to aid in transferring load to ground below the bridge unit, wherein at least one elongated precast concrete beam has a configuration that is different than a configuration of another one of the elongated precast concrete beams;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, at least one elongated precast concrete beam includes a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members;

wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, sedimentation members located toward the side walls have heights that are greater than heights of sedimentation members located towards a spanwise center of the pathway tunnel.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein at least a most upstream one of the bridge units is installed such that a top of a shortest one of the sedimentation members of the most upstream bridge unit is substantially aligned in height with an invert of the incoming water flow path.

6. A method of constructing a bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the method comprising:

utilizing a plurality of precast concrete bridge units, each bridge unit including:

spaced apart side walls interconnected by a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated precast concrete beams extending from one side wall to the other side wall and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge unit to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side wall to the other side wall, wherein at least one elongated precast concrete beam includes a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members, at least one sedimentation member having a height that is different than a height of another sedimentation member;

installing the bridge units along a water flow path to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, wherein at least a most upstream one of the bridge units is installed such that a top of a shortest one of the sedimentation members is substantially aligned in height with an invert of the water flow path.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, a first one of the elongated precast concrete beams at one end of the bridge unit lacks any sedimentation members and a second one of the elongated precast beams at an opposite end of the bridge unit includes sedimentation members, and the plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units are installed such that, in the case of adjacent bridge units, the first elongated precast concrete beam of one bridge unit abuts the second elongated precast concrete beam of the other bridge unit.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein, in the case of each of the four-sided precast concrete bridge units, one or more of the following conditions exists:

each sedimentation member has a height that is between about ten percent and about twenty-seven percent of a clear height of the pathway tunnel at top dead center;

each gap between the sedimentation members is between about six percent and about twelve percent of a span of the tunnel; or

at least one of the elongated precast concrete beams lacks any sedimentation members, such that a depthwise spacing along the pathway tunnel between elongated precast concrete beams having sedimentation members is between about thirty percent and about seventy percent of the span of the tunnel.

9. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein the pathway tunnel has a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated concrete beams extending from one side to the other side of the pathway tunnel and that are spaced apart along the pathway tunnel to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water to enhance capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each of the plurality of elongated through-openings extends from one side to the other side of the pathway tunnel to provide full span connectivity between the pathway tunnel and the underlying ground along each elongated through-opening;

wherein at least forty percent of the bottom configuration of the pathway tunnel is open;

wherein, multiple elongated concrete beams each include a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in a spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members, wherein at least one sedimentation member of each of the multiple beams has a height that is different than a height of another sedimentation member of the same beam;

wherein, each sedimentation member has a height that is between about ten percent and about twenty-seven percent of a clear height of the pathway tunnel at top dead center;

wherein, in the case of each of the multiple elongated concrete beams, each gap between the sedimentation members is between about six percent and about twelve percent of a span of the pathway tunnel;

wherein, in the case of each of the multiple elongated concrete beams, a center-to-center spacing between adjacent sedimentation members is between about twelve percent and about seventeen percent of the span of the pathway tunnel;

wherein, the multiple elongated concrete beams are separated from each other by one or more elongated concrete beams that lack any sedimentation members, such that a depthwise center-to-center spacing along the pathway tunnel between elongated concrete beams having sedimentation members is between about thirty percent and about seventy percent of the span of the pathway tunnel.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel is formed by one of (1) a plurality of four-sided precast concrete bridge units placed in abutting relationship or (2) one or more precast concrete base units forming the bottom configuration of the pathway tunnel and one or more metal plate structures forming a remainder of a surrounding perimeter of the pathway tunnel.

11. A bridge system for providing a surrounded water flow pathway tunnel adapted to produce an environmentally-friendly tunnel bottom, the system comprising:

at least one four-sided concrete bridge arrangement to create the surrounded water flow pathway tunnel, one end of the pathway tunnel located upstream along a natural water path and an opposite end of the pathway tunnel located downstream along the natural water path, wherein the four-sided concrete bridge arrangement includes spaced apart side walls, a top wall, and a bottom configuration formed by a plurality of elongated concrete beams extending in a spanwise direction and that are spaced apart along a depth of the bridge arrangement to define a plurality of elongated through-openings for interacting with flowing water and earthen material in flowing water for capture and settling of earthen material along the pathway tunnel, wherein each elongated concrete beam has a bottom side that is in a common plane with a bottom surface of each of the side walls,

wherein at least one elongated concrete beam has a configuration that is different than a configuration of another one of the elongated concrete beams, wherein multiple elongated concrete beams each include a plurality of upwardly-projecting sedimentation members spaced apart in the spanwise direction to define gaps between the sedimentation members; and

wherein, on at least one of the multiple elongated concrete beams, sedimentation members located toward the side walls have heights that are greater than a height of at least one sedimentation member located towards a spanwise center of the pathway tunnel.