Liberty Center, OH

The new Damascus Bridge project broke ground in 2015, to replace the aging bridge crossing the Maumee River. The $11.6 million bridge replacement project was done by Miller Brothers Construction, the Ohio Department of Transportation’s contractor, out of Archbold, Ohio..

The new bridge features a 12-span pre-stressed concrete I-beam structure over the river with a widened deck to accommodate two 12-foot lanes and two 10-foot shoulders. Construction was completed in 2017.

PRODUCTS USED:
OptiFlo MR
OptiFlo 500
ConAir

Defiance, OH

The Purple Heart Bridge replaced the Clinton Street bridge that was built in 1930.

The total project cost $8.3 million and widened the driving deck, along with wider pedestrian sidewalks.

The bridge closed in February 2019 for total reconstruction. The construction continued throughout the year despite many forms of severe weather that could have caused all kinds of delays, including a 130-year flood and extremely cold temperatures.

Concrete was poured on October 4th and 5th during the late-night hours and into daybreak. The long days and extra effort paid off with the bridge’s dedication on Monday, December 2, 2019.

LaCrosse, WI

The New Bridge Connects LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Rural Winona County, Minnesota

The new crossing will consist of two separate bridges parallel and upstream from the existing bridge. They will be concrete box girder structures over the main river channel and precast concrete girders over the back channel.

Details:

• 100 year design life
• Length: 2593 ft
• Width: approximately 45-66 ft
• Two twelve-foot lanes each direction
• Eastbound acceleration lane
• Twelve-foot outside shoulders
• Six-foot inside shoulders

Cost:

$187.5 million

Project Purpose:

The primary purpose of the project is to provide a new structurally sound I-90 river crossing bridge that meets current structural and geometric standards on an important regional river crossing, and to provide a reconstructed interchange that improves traffic safety, capacity and access on and between Highway 61/14 and I-90.

In addition to the highway issues being addressed, the project faces many competing interests of varying sensitivity, including lock and dam access, Traveler Information Center/Rest Area access, river user access, US Fish and Wildlife Refuge, environmentally sensitive bluffs, railroad corridor, proximity to the airport and river navigation channel, and the Mississippi River Bicycle Trail.

Visual Quality:

To safely accommodate all of the desired movements, the interchange will look drastically different when completed. However, great effort was made to ensure that the resulting bridge and interchange will fit into the beautiful surroundings created by the bluff and river environment. A Visual Quality Team met during the design phase of the project to guide decisions toward a natural fit into the project setting. Stone patterns and colors were selected for the structural elements matching the surrounding limestone rocks in the bluffs. The visual quality design intends to draw attention to the landscape by minimizing the Visual impact of the interchange features.

Final elements of this design goal include:

• Concrete color finish to complement surrounding limestone bluffs
• Bridge pier shapes honoring the shape of local trees
• Bridge type that does not compete with views
• Open bridge rail allowing river views
• Subtle accent lighting preserving the natural lighting environment

This bridge alone has 53,000 cubic yards of concrete consisting of 6 different mix designs that utilized a combination of different chemicals for different performance requirements. ConAir air entrainment was used throughout the project for freeze thaw durability. UltraFlo 5600 high range water reducer was incorporated into mixes that required a low water cement ratio in order to provide a pump-able and workable mix. ProLong L hydration stabilizer was used to extend the pot life of mixes as well as control the hydration and set characteristics of the concrete. In cold weather NitroCast K was used to accelerate the concrete, and finally OptiFlo 50 low range water reducer was used in standard mixes for additional strength.

Detroit, MI

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project is a once-in-a-generation undertaking. The project will deliver much-needed transportation improvements for international travelers, and will provide opportunities for growth to the Windsor-Detroit region.

Distinctive Features:

• Cable-stayed design with clear span of 0.53 miles – the longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge in North America.
• Three lanes in each direction with a dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists.
• New Ports of Entry on both the US and Canadian sides. Both will be among the largest and most advanced Ports of Entry in North America.