From the BCCT.
Calhoun St. Bridge to be upgraded, gets own Web site
A new Web page will update the public on the project’s progress.
By GEORGE MATTAR
Cross the Calhoun Street Bridge in your travels? Be prepared for some traffic headaches when a major rehabilitation begins later this year.
To ease the pain, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced Thursday it has launched a Web page to keep the public informed of the project. The bridge links Trenton and Morrisville across the Delaware River. [Link to web page here.]
While the project is in the preliminary design phase, the commission is dedicating a specific page on its public Web site due to the volume of commuters who use the bridge, said commission spokesman Joe Donnelly.
“We also set up a Web page because of the anticipated community interest,” Donnelly said.
The executive director of the commission, Frank G. McCartney, said the Calhoun Street Bridge rehabilitation will be challenging.
“This Web page is a manifestation of the commission’s intent to keep the public informed and involved with the decision-making process as this project goes forward.”
The project will include replacement of the superstructure floor system; repair of iron trusses, the substructure and approach roadways; and improvements to the rails and sidewalk, Donnelly said.
The goal is for work to begin late this year, with completion in late 2010.
The bridge, included on the National Register of Historical Places, opened for travel on Oct. 20, 1884, and is 1,274 feet long. It is a Phoenix Pratt truss with a timber plank pedestrian sidewalk supported by the upriver truss on steel cantilever brackets. It is the longest through-truss bridge in the commission’s 20 bridge inventory and the only one built completely of wrought iron.
The Calhoun Street Bridge has a 3-ton weight limit, an 8-foot vertical clearance and a 15 mph speed limit. In 2007, an average 18,500 vehicles used the bridge each day.
Showing posts with label DRJTBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DRJTBA. Show all posts
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Bridge Renovation Trifecta in Play
The BCCT tells us this morning that the Calhoun Street Bridge is next on the list of DRJTBC structures to be rehabilitated.
Structures need to be maintained (note to school board) and plans need to be made (also a note to the school board) but it's not going to be easy traffic-wise with both the Superhighway and Calhoun bridges undergoing some sort of work.
Calhoun Street Bridge slated for rehabilitation
The 124-year-old span is the oldest of the commission’s 20 Delaware River bridges.
By GEORGE MATTAR
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission awarded a contract Monday to start the rehabilitation process for the 124-year-old Calhoun Street Bridge, which carries about 18,500 vehicles daily.
At its regular monthly meeting, the board approved a contract not to exceed $666,000 for TransSystems Corp. of Langhorne to begin engineering studies on the bridge. The engineering contract is for preliminary, final and post design services.
The rehabilitation includes replacement of the floors, repairs of the iron truss, painting, improvements to the bridge rail and sidewalk safety features and roadway repairs.
Construction is expected to being late next year and be completed in late 2010, said commission spokesman Joe Donnelly. The study will determine the cost of the project.
“The Calhoun Street Bridge is the oldest bridge in our jurisdiction,” said Frank G. McCartney, the commission’s executive director. “At 124 years old, the bridge is constructed of wrought iron, posing unique challenges for commission personnel and our consultants to overcome in rehabilitating the structure.”
Donnelly said McCartney was referring to the iron structure, as few, if any bridges are constructed of iron today. Even back in the 1800s, Donnelly said many bridges were built with steel.
The bridge is 1,274 feet long. A timber plank pedestrian sidewalk is supported by the upriver truss on steel cantilever brackets, Donnelly said. The bridge has a three ton limit and a 15 mph speed limit.
In 1985, stiff opposition from Morrisville residents prevented the commission from replacing the span with a new bridge. Likewise, a plan by the commission to convert the Calhoun Street bridge into a pedestrian route in return for a four-lane bridge being built next to it was turned back in 1992.
Structures need to be maintained (note to school board) and plans need to be made (also a note to the school board) but it's not going to be easy traffic-wise with both the Superhighway and Calhoun bridges undergoing some sort of work.
Calhoun Street Bridge slated for rehabilitation
The 124-year-old span is the oldest of the commission’s 20 Delaware River bridges.
By GEORGE MATTAR
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission awarded a contract Monday to start the rehabilitation process for the 124-year-old Calhoun Street Bridge, which carries about 18,500 vehicles daily.
At its regular monthly meeting, the board approved a contract not to exceed $666,000 for TransSystems Corp. of Langhorne to begin engineering studies on the bridge. The engineering contract is for preliminary, final and post design services.
The rehabilitation includes replacement of the floors, repairs of the iron truss, painting, improvements to the bridge rail and sidewalk safety features and roadway repairs.
Construction is expected to being late next year and be completed in late 2010, said commission spokesman Joe Donnelly. The study will determine the cost of the project.
“The Calhoun Street Bridge is the oldest bridge in our jurisdiction,” said Frank G. McCartney, the commission’s executive director. “At 124 years old, the bridge is constructed of wrought iron, posing unique challenges for commission personnel and our consultants to overcome in rehabilitating the structure.”
Donnelly said McCartney was referring to the iron structure, as few, if any bridges are constructed of iron today. Even back in the 1800s, Donnelly said many bridges were built with steel.
The bridge is 1,274 feet long. A timber plank pedestrian sidewalk is supported by the upriver truss on steel cantilever brackets, Donnelly said. The bridge has a three ton limit and a 15 mph speed limit.
In 1985, stiff opposition from Morrisville residents prevented the commission from replacing the span with a new bridge. Likewise, a plan by the commission to convert the Calhoun Street bridge into a pedestrian route in return for a four-lane bridge being built next to it was turned back in 1992.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Calhoun Street Bridge Rehab Planned
From the Trenton Times.
Now it's the DRJTBA who is doing it wrong. Stop with all the wasted money on feasibility studies and overall plans. Just do it. You people gotta understand!
Bridge to past also has a future
No need to replace 124-year-old span
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, CURT YESKE
LAMBERTVILLE -- There will be no wrecking ball for the Calhoun Street Bridge between Trenton and Morrisville, Pa., at least in the foreseeable future. Instead, renovations are planned for the 124-year-old span.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, meeting in temporary quarters while its administration building in New Hope, Pa. is undergoing an expansion, yesterday disclosed the result of a study of the span while announcing it also plans a major renovation of the Washington Crossing Bridge.
A structural analysis of the Calhoun Street Bridge completed during the past year pointed toward a renovation program rather than re placing the bridge, said George G. Alexandridis, the chief engineer for the bi-state agency.
Alexandridis said the renovation would likely start in late 2009 after the design phase has been completed for the project.
"It's the oldest of our (13 toll- free) bridges, and we had the assessment done to see whether it had to be rehabilitated. It's a wonderful structure, being made of wrought iron, but it does carry a heavy load," said Alexandridis.
A year ago when the contract for a structural analysis of the bridge was awarded, Frank G. McCartney, the agency's executive director, did not predict a recommendation for a replacement structure, but said it was a possibility.
McCartney said it would be a "standard rehabilitation" much like those the commission has been carrying out on many of its bridges within its responsibility between Trenton and the border of New York state. The Calhoun Street Bridge records more than 18,000 crossings a day even though it is weight-restricted to cars and small trucks.
Alexandridis said a standard renovation project would include structural repairs, work on the sidewalks, a review of the coatings on the metal superstructure and repairs to the supporting piers.
When the study was initiated, McCartney said the analysis was critical because the bridge was made of wrought iron. Although it is a sturdy material, the bridge was erected without manufacturing standards. He said steel has manufacturing standards and is rated, but wrought iron is not.
The study was done by Lichten stein Consulting Engineers of Paramus for $342,712.
The commission yesterday awarded a contract for an $895,120 study to develop repair details and renovation concepts for the Washington Crossing Bridge. The study will address short- and long-term improvement strategies for the narrow two-lane toll-free span.
The Washington Crossing Bridge between Upper Makefield, Pa., and Hopewell Township, averages 6,900 crossings a day.
The project includes a major in- depth inspection and load-rating analysis of its underwater features and portions of the approaches to the bridge. The contract was awarded to Dewberry-Goodking Inc. of Carlisle, Pa.
The 877-foot-long bridge last underwent an extensive structural renovations in the fall of 1994. At that time, some trusses were replaced by new fabricated galvanized steel and the steel grid deck, originally installed in 1951, was replaced at each end of the span.
A new wood sidewalk was installed and the structure was sand- blasted and painted.
The bridge about five years ago was restricted to 15 miles per hour with a three-ton weight limit.
Now it's the DRJTBA who is doing it wrong. Stop with all the wasted money on feasibility studies and overall plans. Just do it. You people gotta understand!
Bridge to past also has a future
No need to replace 124-year-old span
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, CURT YESKE
LAMBERTVILLE -- There will be no wrecking ball for the Calhoun Street Bridge between Trenton and Morrisville, Pa., at least in the foreseeable future. Instead, renovations are planned for the 124-year-old span.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, meeting in temporary quarters while its administration building in New Hope, Pa. is undergoing an expansion, yesterday disclosed the result of a study of the span while announcing it also plans a major renovation of the Washington Crossing Bridge.
A structural analysis of the Calhoun Street Bridge completed during the past year pointed toward a renovation program rather than re placing the bridge, said George G. Alexandridis, the chief engineer for the bi-state agency.
Alexandridis said the renovation would likely start in late 2009 after the design phase has been completed for the project.
"It's the oldest of our (13 toll- free) bridges, and we had the assessment done to see whether it had to be rehabilitated. It's a wonderful structure, being made of wrought iron, but it does carry a heavy load," said Alexandridis.
A year ago when the contract for a structural analysis of the bridge was awarded, Frank G. McCartney, the agency's executive director, did not predict a recommendation for a replacement structure, but said it was a possibility.
McCartney said it would be a "standard rehabilitation" much like those the commission has been carrying out on many of its bridges within its responsibility between Trenton and the border of New York state. The Calhoun Street Bridge records more than 18,000 crossings a day even though it is weight-restricted to cars and small trucks.
Alexandridis said a standard renovation project would include structural repairs, work on the sidewalks, a review of the coatings on the metal superstructure and repairs to the supporting piers.
When the study was initiated, McCartney said the analysis was critical because the bridge was made of wrought iron. Although it is a sturdy material, the bridge was erected without manufacturing standards. He said steel has manufacturing standards and is rated, but wrought iron is not.
The study was done by Lichten stein Consulting Engineers of Paramus for $342,712.
The commission yesterday awarded a contract for an $895,120 study to develop repair details and renovation concepts for the Washington Crossing Bridge. The study will address short- and long-term improvement strategies for the narrow two-lane toll-free span.
The Washington Crossing Bridge between Upper Makefield, Pa., and Hopewell Township, averages 6,900 crossings a day.
The project includes a major in- depth inspection and load-rating analysis of its underwater features and portions of the approaches to the bridge. The contract was awarded to Dewberry-Goodking Inc. of Carlisle, Pa.
The 877-foot-long bridge last underwent an extensive structural renovations in the fall of 1994. At that time, some trusses were replaced by new fabricated galvanized steel and the steel grid deck, originally installed in 1951, was replaced at each end of the span.
A new wood sidewalk was installed and the structure was sand- blasted and painted.
The bridge about five years ago was restricted to 15 miles per hour with a three-ton weight limit.
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