GEORGE STREET BRIDGE OVER RTE. 18 AND BOYD PARK
New Brunswick, N.J.
Cost: $215 million
Length: 593 ft
Designer: Gannett Fleming Inc.
Contractor: The Conti Group
Owner: New Jersey DOT
The George Street Bridge is the first in the world to combine precast concrete arches with a lightweight cellular concrete overfill. Original designs were revised to a drilled shaft/multicolumn pier configuration, which allowed for the construction of a one-lane access road below and parallel to the proposed structure. By placing a portion of the access road directly below the bridge, the project team was able to maximize usable park space along the river.
ELWHA RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Clallam County, Wash.
Cost: $16.7 million
Length: 600 ft
Designer: Berger-Abam
Contractor: Parsons
Owner: Clallam County,
Rocky terrain did not create a bumpy start, or ending for that matter. Access to Pier 2 proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of the project. Situated on a rocky knoll about 50 vertical ft down a steep embankment, it was bordered to the north and east by vertical drop-offs and to the south by an existing crib wall of unknown stability. To deal with the situation, Parsons had to design-build a ramp and work pad.
OREGON 38: ELK CREEK TO HARDSCRABBLE CREEK
Elkton, Ore.
Cost: $19 million
Length: 546 ft
Designers: Slayden Construction Group Inc., T.Y. Lin
Contractor: Slayden Construction Group Inc.
Owner: Oregon DOT
Scenic views did not enhance the look of six months’ worth of 20-minute delays and 40-mile-long detours. So the Oregon DOT decided to engage in rapid replacement for this bridge. Gigantic hydraulic jacks moved the new 1,500-ton eastside bridge 15 ft down steel tracks to its final destination. After the westside bridge was installed, crews aligned it to the substructure and ensured it met ODOT’s strict earthquake and seismic activity standards.
BAGLEY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Detroit
Cost: $9 million
Length: 740 ft
Designer: HNTB Michigan Inc.
Contractor: Walter Toebe Construction
Owner: Michigan DOT
Two of Detroit’s fastest-growing communities were not fitting the ideal model of togetherness prior to the construction of the Bagley Bridge. Officials are hoping construction of this span will bring people together. To provide a comfort level to this community gathering place, four vertical and one lateral tuned mass dampers were installed within the steel box girder to mitigate movement from vibrations generated by pedestrian traffic.
U.S. 191 OVER THE COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE
Moab, Utah
Cost: $26 million
Length: 1,022 ft
Designer: FIGG
Contractor: Wadsworth Bros. Construction
Owner: Utah DOT
Construction of this massive structure is tip-toeing through a highly environmentally sensitive area that houses the Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. A special mineral-based stain and rock texture blend the bridge into the landscape, keeping the focus on nature. Balanced cantilever construction from above keeps construction out of the river and maintains recreational uses in the area.
