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AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Portageville Bridge Replacement - ERA Award of Merit 2018 Golder served as the geotechnical Engineer-of-Record for the Portageville Bridge Replacement Project, located in western New York State, which received an “Award of Merit” from the New York division of Engineering News Record (ENR), an integrated media platform providing construction industry analysis, data, opinions, and news. The new bridge (renamed the Genesee Arch Bridge) is the first steel arch bridge built since the 1940s for the US railroad industry and is a central connector on the railway’s Southern Tier Line, between Binghamton and Buffalo. Following a comprehensive study, it was determined that a new bridge was needed to improve train movements along the rail line, which were restricted to speeds less than 10-miles-per-hour, due to bridge’s age (built in 1875) and deteriorating condition. The new steel arch bridge spans the Genesee River Gorge, which runs through Letchworth State Park, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”. Design of the new bridge required that its foundations GOLDER 2018 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT
be cut upwards of 120-feet into the river gorge sidewalls, significantly constraining and complicating bridge construction, as any activity could not adversely impact the river or park. As a result, the new bridge was constructed utilizing cantilevered construction methods. Foundation design required extensive geologic/geotechnical assessments, and a detailed subsurface exploration program. Golder personnel rappelled down the river gorge sidewalls to develop a comprehensive understanding of ground conditions. Impacts to wildlife within Letchworth State Park required careful consideration. The project team closely monitored a nearby American Eagle nest, a protected species. Tree clearing activities were limited to the period between late fall and early spring to protect and minimize impacts on the roosting habitat associated with a local population of bats. The old bridge was demolished and pier foundations in the river below were removed, restoring the river to its natural, unobstructed condition.
Construction of the new Genesee Arch Bridge is an engineering marvel, made possible by meticulous consideration to its foundation design. For Golder this was a decade-long project and is an example of how we can bring together a diverse, collaborative team (including staff from 13 offices across the US and Canada) to deliver technical ingenuity and practical solutions to complex challenges. Bob Stetkar Principal from the Bristol (US) office was the Project Director. Mark McNeilly, Principal (Newark, US) was the Project Manager, and Jay Smerekanicz, Associate, from the Manchester, (US) office was the Lead Geologist / Engineering Geologist on the Portageville Bridge Replacement Project.
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