Bank Stabilization at SR 33 Homochitto River Bridge

Initially, Mendrop Engineering Resources, LLC (as Mendrop~Wages, LLC) was contracted by Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide an independent hydraulic review of engineering data submitted by a third party contractor for State Route 33 (SR33) Homochitto River Bridge (Bridge #29.00) near Rosetta. The scope of work for this small purchase contract also included submission of supplemental conceptual design recommendations for stream bank stabilization.

The Homochitto River has undergone significant channel degradation, extensive meandering, and lateral movement since the 1940s and SR33 bridges at this location have collapsed three times. MER recommended a combination of longitudinal stone toe protection, bank revetment, bendway weirs, and local pier scour protection as countermeasures to combat channel bank erosion at the site.

In July 2014, MER was selected by MDOT to provide preliminary and final hydraulic design and Phase “A” Final Right-of-Way plans for bank stabilization at the SR33 Homochitto River Bridge. Hydraulic design and analysis for stream stability countermeasures are based on requirements found in FHWA Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 23 (HEC-23). Bridge scour evaluations included an assessment of channel stability utilizing FHWA HEC-18, HEC-20, and Hydraulic Design Series No.6 requirements.

In May 2015, MER was selected by MDOT to provide Phase “B” final contract plans for the stream bank stabilization at the SR33 Homochitto River Bridge. The stream bank stabilization plans included typical sections, summary of quantities, estimated quantities, plan-profile sheets, traffic control plans, erosion control plans, right-of-way coordinate sheets, and final cross sections.

In May 2017, MER was again selected by MDOT to provide Phase “C” construction review for the construction of the stream bank stabilization at the SR 33 Homochitto River Bridge.