Gold Star Memorial Bridge n By
J. David Schill
In early March, Cianbro was contacted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to assist in the emergency repairs of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge located in New London, Connecticut. Eight of the sixteen rocker bearings had failed and required replacement. Given Cianbro’s reputation for excellence and innovative construction practices, the company was asked to assist in the design and eventual replacement of the failed bearings. The goal of the project is to assist the ConnDOT in developing the most efficient and cost effective design while working “hand in hand” with the owner’s design engineering team, procure the necessary components, and then proceed with the field construction as soon as possible without major impact to the traveling public. The Gold Star Bridge consists of a pair of steel truss bridges that carries both Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 8
across the Thames River between New system which was designed by Cianbro’s London and Groton, Connecticut. The Construction Structures Team. Once the bridge is the largest structure in the state structure is raised, existing units will be at over 6,000 feet long and 1,000,000 removed, the area will be cleaned and square feet of deck area. With 11 highmodified, and the new bearings will be way lanes, the structure accommodates installed. Project completion is currently more than 120,000 vehicles daily. scheduled for December 2014. Preliminary construction began in As with most complex bridge May with scaffolding installation for safe projects, Cianbro’s Alan Fisher and his and efficient pre-construction inspection, Construction Structures Team are workevaluation and construction access and ing closely with the client (ConnDOT) egress. Once access was established, the to finalize the design and to develop the project team started modifications to the jacking system. The Project Team is led existing structure to accommodate the by Senior Project Manager David Schill, jacking system. This involves reinforcProject Superintendent Gary Nash and ing the existing girders, installation of General Foreman Todd Hoffa. Several new support members, and prepping additional team members have contribthe existing bearing for replacement. uted to the organization and preliminary The new bearings are being fabricated phases of the project, including Matt “in-house” by Cianbro Fabrication and Hebert, who played an integral part in Coating Corporation and are scheduled working with ConnDOT to develop the to be delivered in August. Replacement scope, Kim Sieber, Forester Sprague, of the bearing will require significant Derek Fitzgerald, and Chet Muckenhirn. structural shoring, temporary traffic 4 2,641 Project Safe Hours controls, and an engineered jacking
C I A N B R O S P R I N G / S U M M E R C H AT T E R