Project Snapshop
Project: Gold Run Bridge Raising
Location: Interstate 80 near Truckee, California
Application: Raising a bridge deck and three concrete support bents
Challenge: Raise the bridge and three bents evenly
Solution: Hydraulic locknut jacks with a custom threaded-rod pulling system
Result: The structure was raised incrementally and mechanically secured after each lift
In 2000, Roe Construction contacted CH Bull for help developing a system to raise the Gold Run Bridge over Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada.
Unlike a typical bridge lift involving only the deck, this project required the bridge crossing and all three support bents to be raised together. CH Bull worked with the contractor to design a controlled hydraulic system for the operation.
The Challenge
The bridge deck and support bents needed to move as one structure. Uneven lifting could place excessive stress on the bridge or cause the different support points to move out of alignment.
The system also needed to hold the full load safely between lift cycles so the hydraulic equipment could be reset and the structure raised again.
Engineering the Jacking System
CH Bull developed a pulling assembly using hydraulic locknut jacks and high-strength DYWIDAG threadbars positioned on both sides of each jack.
As the jacks extended, the threaded rods pulled the bridge bents upward. This arrangement transferred the hydraulic force into the structure while helping crews maintain control at each lifting point.
The CH Bull Solution
The structure was raised in controlled increments of approximately four to five inches.
After each lift, crews tightened the jack’s locking collar to support the load mechanically. The jacking assembly was then reset for the next cycle, allowing the bridge and its three bents to be raised gradually while remaining supported throughout the operation.
Project Outcome
The custom hydraulic system gave Roe Construction a controlled, repeatable method for raising the Gold Run Bridge and its three support bents together.
By combining hydraulic lifting with mechanical load holding between cycles, CH Bull helped the contractor complete the bridge-raising operation while maintaining support and alignment throughout the process.
Need Support for a Bridge Raising Project?
CH Bull supplies high-tonnage hydraulic jacks, pumps, controls, threaded-rod systems, and custom equipment packages for bridge lifting, structural positioning, and controlled load movement.