The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) completed the installation of the new Rio de Flag bridge along Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff, allowing the road to reopen to traffic Thursday afternoon ahead of schedule.
During the week-long closure, crews demolished the old bridge and installed the new bridge with an accelerated method using precast bridge elements. Fabricating the bridge components ahead of time as opposed to building them in place allows the work to go more quickly, reducing the time needed to replace the bridge and impacts to traffic, ADOT says.
With the completion of the new bridge, there is still more work to be done. Crews will remain on-site for the next several weeks to install the bridge barrier and sidewalks and replace the raised median and a portion of concrete pavement on Historic Route 66.
Since ADOT is partnering with the city of Flagstaff on this effort, crews will also over-excavate the Rio de Flag wash to accommodate drainage infrastructure for the future city of Flagstaff Rio de Flag flood control project. Intermittent lane closures will be required to complete the remaining work.
The $4.9 million project is expected to be completed by this fall.
-----------
SOURCE: Arizona DOT
