Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge

The Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge (Officially: Puente Atirantado de Naranjito, Jesús Izcoa Moure) is a Cable-stayed bridge that connects the cities of Toa Alta and Naranjito, in Puerto Rico by the Puerto Rico Highway 5.

Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge
Aerial view of Cable-stayed bridge Naranjito
Coordinates	18.324315°N 66.208656°W / 18.324315; -66.208656
Carries	4 lanes for PR-5
Crosses	Rio La Plata
Locale	Naranjito, Puerto Rico
Official name	Puente Atirantado Jesús Izcoa Moure
Other name(s)	Puente Colgante, Puente La Plata
Maintained by	Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works
Characteristics
Design	Cable-stayed bridge
Total length	703m (2306 ft.)
Width	29.20m (95.8 ft.)
History
Opened	September 17, 2008 (2008-09-17) by Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (Gov.)
Location

It was called by the name of Jesus Izcoa Moure, as he was the first state legislator, native of Naranjito, also his signature is stamped on the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.[1]

The bridge crosses the Rio La Plata between the two municipalities. According to data collected more than 80,000 residents of Puerto Rico benefit bridge; this is the very first Cable-stayed bridge in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.[2][3] Puerto Rico is an area of moderate to high seismic activity. The bridge was designed using an AASHTO response spectrum (Soil Profile Type I and an Acceleration Coefficient of 0.20g). All major bridge members were required to remain elastic for the design level earthquake and ductile detailing in accordance with AASHTO Seismic Performance Category C was provided in all potential plastic hinge regions.

PPD Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila led the opening ceremony of the project on October 24, 2008. The total cost of the project was $31 million which came from local and federal funds. The bridge (including approach spans) is 703 meters long. The cable stayed portion is supported by two hollow diamond-shaped towers and 96 stay. The total cable stayed supported length is 315 meters with a main span over La Plata river of 157.5 meters. Few days after inaugurated the bridge, took out the marathon "Carrera 10K del Chango sobre el Puente Atirantado" where all proceeds would go to help families of the people of Naranjito.

The bridge is now restricted to two lanes to minimize impact loads on the cable stayed system. These impact loads are generated when traveling trucks bounce on the bridge deck due to the bumpiness of the concrete surface. The bumpiness of the bridge deck was the result of unfortunate judgement provided by consultants during the construction of the cast-in-place bridge deck. This structural condition is fixable.

The design of the Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge was carried out by a joint venture between CSA and HNTB. The inspection during construction was performed by a firm named Edwards and Kelcey managed at the time by Eng. Ralph Burrington. The cable stayed system was provided by Dywidag Systems International.

The Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge served to educate young engineers and received multiple visits coordinated by the mayor of Naranjito at the time (Manolo Ortega), the Secretary of Transportation (Fernando Fagundo), the Director of Highway Authority (Tomas Montalvo) and local engineering universities. The bridge was built mainly by local workers. About 80% of the work force was from Naranjito, Barranquitas and Bayamon.