Patent ID: 8656543

Claim:
A method for shoring a bridge having a superstructure using a replacement bent to replace a substandard bent comprising the steps of: a. raising the superstructure of the bridge to unload the superstructure of the bridge from the substandard bent; b. removing the substandard bent and cutting pilings of the substandard bent to create a series of stub pilings; c. positioning the replacement bent between the stub pilings and the superstructure of the bridge, the replacement bent comprising: i. a metal sill beam configured to engage the series of stub pilings; ii. a metal cap beam configured to engage the superstructure: and iii. a plurality of metal telescoping posts interconnecting the sill beam and the cap beam; d. extending the telescoping posts of the replacement bent so that the sill beam is supported on the stub pilings and the cap beam engages the superstructure of the bridge; e. locking the telescoping posts of the replacement bent; and f. lowering the superstructure of the bridge onto the cap beam of the replacement bent, wherein raising the superstructure of the bridge further comprises: i. positioning a temporary bent between a support mat and the superstructure of the bridge, the temporary bent comprising: a) a metal sill beam; b) a metal cap beam: and c) a plurality of metal telescoping posts interconnecting the sill beam and the cap beam; ii. extending the telescoping posts of the temporary bent by means of a hydraulic jack positioned between the cap beam and the sill beam so that the cap beam engages the superstructure of the bridge and thereby raises the superstructure of the bridge; iii. locking the telescoping posts of the temporary bent with the superstructure of the bridge in its raised position; and iv. removing the hydraulic jack; and wherein locking the telescoping posts of the replacement bent comprises: i. reinstalling the hydraulic jack between the cap beam and the sill beam of the replacement bent; ii. raising the superstructure of the bridge to unload the superstructure of the bridge from the temporary bent by means of the hydraulic jack; iii. unlocking the telescoping posts of the temporary bent and removing the temporary bent; iv. lowering the superstructure of the bridge until the telescoping posts of the replacement bent are in a position to be locked; and v. locking the telescoping posts of the replacement bent.