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ODOT Launches $158M SR8 Bridge Replacement By Lori Tobias CEG CORRESPONDENT
Construction crews on the $158 million Ohio SR 8 bridge replacement project started off the new year with a major milestone that saw the “launching” of the final piece of structural steel on the new southbound structure. “We’re hydraulically launching the bridge girders, instead of conventionally setting them,” said Josh Smith, project engineer. “A conventional set would be a crane picking up the steel and setting it on piers. Instead, we’re basically starting at one end of the bridge, and we build it in place and then push it out over the valley. In this case, we’re working from north to south. We kind of worked our way backwards, pushing the steel to each next location until ultimately, our last push in January landed on the rear abutment.” The bridge project contract was awarded to The Ruhlin Company/Great Lakes SR 8 Joint Venture in spring 2023 and began in August 2023. It involves replacing the “iconic” existing bridge that was built in 1953. At 1,500-ft. long and 180-ft. high, the blue-painted steel bridge carries SR 8 over railroads, city streets and the Little Cuyahoga River and sees approximately 114,000 vehicles a day. It has undergone numerous repairs over the decades, prompting the decision that replacement would be more cost efficient than continued maintenance. The existing bridge has three lanes in each direction. It will be replaced with side-by-side southbound and northbound bridges, each with four lanes as well as shoulders. This is the first time ODOT has used the hydraulic bridge launching method, Smith said. The first section was launched in July and spanned 196 ft. That was followed in August by the launch of the next section, 230-ft. in length. Each section was pushed from pier to pier using rollers and hydraulic jacks which moved sections at about 40 ft. per hour. A total of six launches — totaling 1,600 ft. and 8.2 million lbs. of steel — took place through the final launch in January. “Really, it’s one of a very few projects using the launching method in the nation,” Smith said. “There are things to overcome in that regard alone. The idea of launching, instead of conventionally setting steel, was a challenge. But, between myself, the design team, the contractor and their enthusiasm, we were able to overcome any challenge.” The decision to use incremental launching came about because of conditions on the site, according to Smith. see RUHLIN page 10
ODOT photo
The bridge project contract was awarded to The Ruhlin Company/Great Lakes SR 8 Joint Venture in spring 2023 and began in August 2023.
ODOT photo
ODOT photo
The existing bridge has three lanes in each direction. It will be replaced with side-by-side southbound and northbound bridges, each with four lanes as well as shoulders.
The bridge has undergone numerous repairs over the decades, prompting the decision that replacement would be more cost efficient than continued maintenance.