By: Big R Bridge
This project involved the replacement of twin 3-lane bridges for I-95 over North Avenue in Attleboro, MA. The project specifications called for construction of a conventional temporary bridge in the median to carry the 3 lanes of traffic for the northbound or southbound bridge as that bridge was being replaced.
During the bidding process J F White (contractor ultimately awarded the project) inquired about the possibility of using a Buried Bridge as the temporary bridge rather than the specified bridge. The temporary bridge had to allow for passage of two lanes of North Ave traffic plus sidewalks below the interstate while not changing the road elevation of I-95 above. The custom deep corrugated structural plate Buried Bridge was able to provide the needed clearance without changing the road grades. This was the first deep corrugated structural plate Buried Bridge constructed on a Massachusetts DOT project.
The value engineered Buried Bridge came in about $750,000 less than the cost of the specified temporary bridge structure. With elimination of deep foundations, bridge abutments, removal of the temporary bridge abutments & piles, approach slabs, and heavy equipment required to construct and deconstruct the temporary bridge, the cost savings is estimated at well over $1,000,000. In addition to that, it is estimated that project time savings was over 4 months. The contractor was allowed one weekend to close North Ave and completed assembly of the 100 plate structure in one day.
The Buried Bridge also provided safety enhancements by eliminating the need for heavy equipment (pile driver and cranes) and significantly reducing construction time. This project illustrated the cost, time, foundation, safety, and ABC benefits of using Buried Bridges as an alternative to traditional bridges that is typical of many projects.
For more information on this project visit Big R Bridge here.