Page 8 • December 25, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE
Sherman Minton Bridge Undergoing $137M Makeover By Lori Tobias
was launched publicly in August 2018. Public involvement has been an important component of the project from the start, involving Fifty-nine years after opening, the iconic outreach to the general public, local officials, Sherman Minton Bridge carrying I-64 and U.S. business leaders and community and environ150 traffic over the Ohio River between mental justice advisory groups to gather input Louisville, Ky., and New Albany, Ind., is in on their preferences. Ultimately, this input led need of structural repairs. But the challenges of to the development of the low impact traffic rehabbing a double decked bridge over a major maintenance plan approved by the Federal body of water are many, not the least of which Highway Administration in fall 2020. are traffic and space. Construction is slated to be substantially finTeams on the $137 million bi-state project ished in fall 2023 and fully in spring 2024. have come up with some interesting ways to Here are some quick facts from the overcome those challenges — with limited road Sherman Minton Renewal webpage: closures. Overview “IDOT [Indiana Department of • Major bridge rehabilitation Transportation] and KYTC [Kentucky • Will add up to 30 years of life to the Transportation Cabinet] developed a maintebridge nance traffic plan that minimizes traffic impact • Replace or refurbish Sherman Minton during construction,” said Vince Martini Jr., and Kentucky approach decks senior project manager of Kokosing The double-decked design of the bridge, also known for its arches, makes for • Rehabilitate or replace structural steel eleConstruction Company Inc. “The existing I-64 tight space, particularly on the lower deck where the deck above prohibits ments and hanger cables is three lanes in each direction and we have to movement. • New lighting maintain two lanes in each direction for most of • Drainage repairs the project. Essentially, this leaves us two lanes to work on concrete pump to get the concrete from the truck up onto the • Paint steel components deck,” Martini said. “In those cases, pumps may sit below in each phase.” Sherman Minton Bridge The new traffic configuration went into phase one in the bridge. This project is using what we call a concrete • First interstate bridge in Louisville September, routing one eastbound lane — typically on the plow. Essentially, it sits up on the deck you are getting ready • Opened in 1962 lower deck — through contraflow into the upper westbound to pour. It shuttles the concrete from one of the lanes and • Unique double-decked design lanes, separated by barrier walls to ensure safety for drivers. brings it out onto the deck we are going to pour. It gives us • Carries six lanes of traffic (I-64 and U.S. 150) The contract allows for full closure of the bridge for only the means to transfer concrete from the truck and over the • Carries about 70,000 vehicles daily 54 days out of 843. But there are provisions allowing the rails, the same rails that are used by the Bidwell bridge fin• Long-term repairs needed to extend the life of the bridge contractor to do additional lane closures when crews need ishing machine. We can run the concrete buggy to place conEnvironmental Process crete wherever we need it. This will be a first for me.” This additional room. • Study is required by law for federally funded projects “Our contract allows us to reduce traffic down to one lane also is the first time Martini has used a particular style of • Public involvement is a key part of the study at night. In this first phase, we will close the eastbound lane hydrodemolition machine. They’ll use it on the concrete • Analyzed temporary social, economic and environmenthat remains on the eastbound deck and still maintain one piers holding up the bridge beams. tal impacts “We purchased an Aquajet 410 V,” Martini said. “It’s a eastbound lane. They are above us. We will use the closed • Considered ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate tempoeastbound lane to get delivery trucks and materials, etc., into remote-control water blaster. Basically, the high pressure rary impacts will actually remove the concrete from the surface of the and out of our work area.” • Worked with state, local and federal officials Work on the bridge includes structural steel repairs; piers. We will then reface the piers with new concrete.” Timeline In addition to the specialized equipment, crews are workreplacing bridge decks and hanger cables; rehab work on the • Construction approach approved in fall 2020 substructure; drainage repairs; and new lighting and paint- ing with numerous manlifts and telescoping boom forklifts. • Complete contract procurement, selected designing. There is no substructure work occurring in the river Minor earthwork will be necessary to move the eastbound build/best value contractor in winter 2020 other than navigation clearance gauges that need to be lanes across the westbound lanes. • Construction began late summer 2021 “We’re using crossovers to ensure safe traffic flow. In repainted. • Construction completed in three years The double-decked design of the bridge, also known for Phase 1, this involves building a temporary lane through the Funding its arches, makes for tight space, particularly on the lower median to take the left eastbound lane and move it to the left • Fully funded through federal and state highway funds deck where the deck above prohibits movement. That has westbound lane. We need to build an embankment so we can • Indiana and Kentucky will share the cost of the work take the eastbound across the median.” called for at least one piece of specialized equipment. • There are no plans to toll the Sherman Minton Bridge The bridge rehab is a design-build/best value project that CEG “For the rebuilding of the decks, a lot of times we use a CEG CORRESPONDENT
Teams on the $137 million bi-state project between Indiana and Kentucky have come up with some interesting ways to overcome those challenges — with limited road closures.
Kokosing Construction Company Inc. is leading the way on the rehabilitation of the Sherman Minton bridge.
The iconic Sherman Minton bridge opened 59 years ago.
