Restoring a Critical Link on the Alaska Highway
When a fuel tanker accident caused extensive fire damage to the Sikanni Chief River Bridge—a prestressed concrete bridge along the Alaska Highway in northern British Columbia—swift, expert evaluation was essential to restore safe passage on this key transportation corridor.
Therefore, WSP engaged BDI to support the emergency structural assessment efforts following the incident. Our role was to deliver precise, actionable data to support WSP analysis of the structure. Within days, BDI mobilized equipment and personnel to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the bridge’s damaged and undamaged spans. Leveraging our expertise in live load testing, we performed:
- Semi-static tests using a known vehicle crossing the spans to simulate real-world loading conditions
- Static tests using known weights placed at strategic locations along the bridge deck
The resulting high-resolution strain, rotation, and displacement data enabled WSP to better understand the effects of the fire damage on the bridge’s behavior, allowing decisions to be made quickly regarding the operational safety of the structure and necessary repairs—ensuring minimal disruption to a major shipping route through British Columbia.
BDI delivers trusted structural insights when it matters most. If your agency or firm is facing urgent infrastructure challenges, we’re ready to help you respond with confidence.
