Bridges & Structures

5 Things Decision-Makers Might Not Know About Bridge Jacking

July 1, 2025

By Hongwei Cai, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Structures, WSB

Every successful bridge lift is far more than pumping jacks—it’s a high-precision operation that weaves together structural analysis, traffic choreography, material savvy, and emergency readiness. Overlooking any of these elements can turn a routine maintenance job into a costly—and potentially dangerous—disaster. 

1. Early Engineer Involvement Strengthens Contractor Bids 
Bringing licensed bridge engineers into the bid phase gives contractors a strategic edge. Our early involvement helps identify constructability challenges, optimize staging and traffic-control plans, and refine scope assumptions—resulting in smarter, more competitive proposals. This proactive approach not only reduces post-award changes but can also be the difference-maker to success. 

 2. Keeping Lanes Open Requires Advanced Analysis 
Full traffic closure isn’t always feasible—many bridges serve critical routes where detours are not an option. In such cases, maintaining live traffic during bridge lifting requires more than standard planning. It demands additional calculations, refined details, and advanced analysis to safely account for live load effects. 

3. Material Creativity Speeds Delivery 
Rather than ordering customized plate size or structural section with long lead times, innovative engineers repurpose on-hand or owner-provided materials—adapting jacks to fit what’s available. This flexible approach can trim procurement schedules and budgets by nearly 20% without compromising safety. 

4. True Experts Stand Ready for Emergencies 
Storms, collisions, bearing failures—they all strike without warning. Top bridge-jacking specialists maintain standing emergency contracts and pre-approved jacking plans, with crews and equipment staged for 24/7 mobilization. When minutes count, they’re on site, stabilizing spans in hours, not days. 

If any of these insights spark questions about your next maintenance or rehabilitation project, we’d be glad to share more—no strings attached. A brief conversation could uncover new ways to reduce risk, streamline schedules, and keep your bridges safely open. 

5. Advanced Finite Element Modeling Solves Complex Challenges 
When bridge lifting involves unusual geometry, uncertain load paths, or tight tolerances, our advanced finite element modeling expertise becomes essential. We create a detailed “digital twin” of the structure—accurately modeling every girder, bearing, and reaction frame to simulate behavior before any physical action is taken. 

How WSB Can Help 

WSB’s team of structural experts is prepared to improve both safety and efficiency for your next bridge project. Our specialists are experts in designing and executing high-precision bridge jacking plans, making sure your project is conducted with the utmost care and attention to detail. With a commitment to innovation and reliability, we leverage advanced tools, such as digital twins and advanced finite element modeling, to streamline project timelines, mitigate risks, and achieve superior outcomes. We invite you to contact us to learn more about how our expertise can support your bridge initiatives and help maintain the longevity and functionality of your infrastructure. Partner with WSB to explore how we can create tailored solutions that meet the unique demands of your project. 

Designing and Improving the Snake River Bridge

August 28, 2024
By Carl Osberg, PE, Director of Structures, WSB

Meeting Traffic Demands and Environmental standards with aesthetic sensitivity

As with many instances of aging infrastructure, the bridge across the Snake River to the East of Pine City, MN reached a point in its lifespan where it needed to be redesigned and replaced. Construction projects like bridges require focused attention to a variety of elements to not only ensure the bridge is sound and long lasting, but also to ensure no concerns are created like blocking off access from boats or environmental concerns. The Snake River Bridge scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024 provides a superb example of the many facets that make up bridge design.

Meeting Traffic Needs

One point of consideration for bridges are current and future traffic needs. Previously, if farm equipment needed to cross from both sides of the bridge there would be issues. With the newest designs, the addition of extra wide shoulders allows for traffic to flow whether by car or larger. Through traffic forecasting, a bridge design can meet the needs of the current levels of traffic and those estimated for up to 40 years of potential population growth in the area. This project’s analysis deemed additional lanes unnecessary so long as the extra wide shoulders were included. Ensuring the bridge is only as big as is needed will save considerable time and money.

Considering Environmental Data and Concerns

In bridge design, gathering hydraulic data about the river is imperative to ensure that not only will the bridge be able to handle expected seasonal water depths and the speed of the river’s flow, but also to ensure that any bridge design avoids negatively impacting the areas downstream. For example, the updated trail on either side of the bridge included designs for updated drainage ponds and piping to prevent the road and nearby residences from being affected during heavy rains.

When tearing down an existing bridge, care must be taken to ensure that the river is not polluted, and animal habitats are not unnecessarily impacted. Specifically for the Snake River project, remnants of an older bridge still remained and new designs included removal. For both environmental concerns and financial reasons, the Snake River Bridge was designed with the impetus of ensuring durability and expandability. Not only is the bridge made to last, but also if population growth surpasses estimates the bridge can be more easily expanded to fit the new needs rather than torn down and rebuilt again.

To meet environmental and safety concerns, plans for a path underneath the bridge were included in the design that will grant extra protection for drivers, pedestrians, and the local wildlife once the bridge is completed and put to use. Accessible paths allow for foot traffic of both people and animals to maneuver safely without needing to cross the street.

Reducing Costs

Steps were taken through data gathering and design to limit unnecessary costs. These aspects include adding contingencies in relation to the soil and bedrock. Through geotechnical data gathering, it was identified that there are high levels of bedrock close to the surface in the construction area. Building with bedrock is difficult and attention was given to include contingencies on how to handle different bedrock or soil conditions during construction to ensure the project does not stop and cost money and time. Additionally, to limit excess costs geotechnical data was able to be acquired by drilling through the old bridge and into the soil rather than using a barge. Using a barge for data gathering would have drastically increased costs.

A Completed Project With Aesthetic Appeal

Bridge designs like the one used for the Snake River Bridge meet the needs of the communities that use it, protect against environmental impacts to the water, soil and local animals, reduce costs, and provide a timetable to ensure the bridge will be constructed and reopened without delay. Even down to forgoing the usual plain rectangular shapes and including parabolic arches to for little additional funds to make the bridge more attractive and not stand out so much against the beautiful environment around it. Creating not only a finished usable bridge, but one that is attentive to the various needs of the community, the land it sits on, and the river it crosses are what bridge design is all about.