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Project Story
The East Main Street Bridge crosses the main east-west rail corridor for CSX Railroad and Amtrak. The bridge spans four active tracks – two for thru traffic and two tracks that service the Goodman Street Rail Yard. It, therefore, provides an important crossing for pedestrians, public transport, and commuters to the downtown district from the Beechwood and Homestead Heights neighborhoods north and east of the project.
The 76 ft. span steel multi-girder framing is constructed of weathering steel and is supported by reinforced concrete cantilever abutments and u-walls. The latest condition inspection showed:
- Deterioration in the deck and sidewalk surfaces bridge joints
- Settlement in the approach sidewalks
- Spalled epoxy wearing course
- Cracked and spalling concrete in the bridge seat and backwalls
- Rusted protective fencing
Fisher provided preliminary and final design services. We performed an in-depth deck inspection and testing program in accordance with the NYSDOT deck evaluation manual. The inspection included non-destructive testing with chain drag sounding and ground-penetrating radar, concrete coring, and testing for chloride content. As a result of our inspection and testing program, we recommended that the deck be rehabilitated by scarifying the concrete surface to the top reinforcing level with hydro-demolition and replacement of the concrete.
In addition, Fisher designed details for the reconstruction of the sidewalks, curbs, and replacement of the existing parapets, which showed significant deterioration, and the protective fencing. Because the skew is greater than 30 degrees, which doesn’t allow for joint removal, the begin approach slab is being resurfaced and the armored expansion joint is being replaced. However, the fixed joint was eliminated to provide a jointless, low-maintenance end condition with a new approach slab. Rehabilitation of the abutment and wingwall concrete was also designed and detailed, and the approach and transition guide railing were replaced. The bridge was reconstructed in three stages to maintain two lanes of traffic through each stage.
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