Safety Traffic Control for a Coastal Bridge Constructed on a Reef under Storm Wave Conditions

Abstract

Safety traffic control measures for a temporary bridge, which was constructed with a permeable floor over a road (National Route 229) on a coastal reef, were studied through a hydraulic model experiment and field observation. When the offshore wave height exceeded 4 meters, a large wave force was acted to passing vehicles. It was thus revealed that road closure or other measures would be necessary before the offshore wave height reached 5 meters to ensure the safety of vehicles. It was also found that the wave height could be estimated from the wave pressure measured with wave pressure gauges installed on a bridge pier, and that it would be possible to make full use of such wave pressure data for traffic control on the bridge.