Milton-Madison
Bridge
Trucks
to be banned from
bridges during construction
Contractors
update public
on plans as the work begins
By
Don Ward
Editor
(February 2011) Semi-trucks will not be allowed
on the existing or temporary bridge during the two-year construction
of the new Milton-Madison Bridge. In fact, the temporary approaches
to the existing bridge will be designed for vehicles up to only 40 feet
in length.
That information was part of a question-and-answer session
at the Milton Elementary School during a public meeting held Jan. 18
on the bridge replacement project. Representatives from Michael Baker
Jr. Inc., Walsh Construction, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the
Indiana Department of Transportation fielded questions from the crowd
of just more than 100 people. The Bridge Replacement Project Team organized
the meeting to inform the public on the next steps that already have
begun on both sides of the Ohio River.
So far, the work has involved archaeological surveys and job site preparation
that included creating a barge landing on the Milton side and setting
up temporary office trailers for Walsh Construction at Jaycee Park on
the Madison side. Work will soon begin on the existing piers while a
downstream temporary bridge will be erected to support the future new
bridge superstructure.
Milton-Madison
Bridge construction updates
through January
Heres
a brief look at recent and upcoming construction activity on the
Milton-Madison Bridge Project:
Crews are continuing to mobilize equipment and materials
in the staging area in Madison along Vaughn Drive.
Work began in mid-January on an access ramp that will
lead to a causeway near the bridge in Madison. The causeway
which will be made up of steel plates and stone will extend
out into the river serving as a loading facility for barges which
will carry construction materials.
The projects live bridge cam is now up and operating
on the project website: www.MiltonMadisonBridge.com
The contractor continues to mobilize construction
equipment and materials for the construction of the causeway on
the Indiana shore.
Workers will move the peregrine falcon nesting box
from a bridge pier on the Kentucky side of the river to a bridge
pier on the Indiana side that will not be impacted by construction.
Orange netting will be placed at various locations on the bridge
to discourage the falcons from nesting anywhere other than at
the new nesting box location.
Construction begins on the Indiana causeway which
acts as a stone dock or platform extending into the water providing
access for workers.
Preparation work begins on cofferdam construction
on the Milton side of the river.
Note: Construction
schedule is subject to change.
Regatta
race course
to be altered during
two-year bridge project
Staff Report
Madison Regatta Inc. has been working in tandem with the Milton-Madison
Bridge Committee to develop a site plan for the 2011 Lucas Oil
Madison Regatta.
The impending bridge construction project has made it necessary
to relocate and shorten the race course to accommodate the H1
Unlimited Hydroplanes during bridge construction. The 2011 Lucas
Oil Madison Regatta will be held July 1-3 on a two-mile course
this year. Previously, the course was 2.5 miles long.
Current design parameters have turns three and four in line with
St. Michaels Avenue. Turns one and two will line up in the
Plum-Vernon Street area.
Madison Regatta president Crystal McHargue said during the monthly
Regatta meeting held Jan. 11 that plans continue to move smoothly
in preparation for this years event.
For additional information on the 2011 Lucas Oil Madison Regatta,
contact the Madison Regatta at (812) 265-5000 or visit: www.MadisonRegatta.com.
|
Aaron Stover, Project Manager for Michael Baker Jr., led
the Powerpoint presentation in Milton. The engineering firm has been
hired to oversee the construction by Walsh Construction Co. of LaPorte,
Ind., and its two design-build company partners, Buckland & Taylor
Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., and Burgess & Niple Engineers of Columbus,
Ohio. The $103 million project will involve an innovative bridge sliding
technique to build and then move the new superstructure into place atop
the existing but strengthened and widened piers. Similar bridge-sliding
projects have been done before but none as large as this one, according
to Stover. Three such projects took place in San Francisco, Vancouver,
B.C., and Trenton, Ont.
Walsh Constructions winning bid for the Milton-Madison Bridge
proposes to close traffic for only 10 days during the two-year project
instead of a full year, as proposed by the other bidding companies.
The first of two five-day closures is scheduled for late spring of this
year when traffic will be rerouted onto the existing bridge via new
approach ramps on both sides of the river. The second five-day closure
will come in late summer 2012 when the new superstructure will be moved
into place.
The bridge replacement project atop rehabilitated piers is scheduled
to be completed by September 2012 and is being hailed as the fastest
bridge to ever be built over the Ohio River. A federal stimulus grant
of $20 million was provided toward the project, with the two states
Kentucky and Indiana splitting the remaining
cost.
Stover answered several questions from the audience during the January
meeting:
Semi-trucks will not be allowed on the existing or temporary
bridges during the construction project. The temporary approaches are
being designed with turns that will not accommodate trucks or any vehicle
longer than 40 feet. The current weight limit of 15 tons will remain
in effect. Trucks will be allowed on the new bridge, once it is completed
and open to traffic.
The northernmost end of Ferry Street in Madison that connects
onto State Rd. 56 is being studied to ensure safety for motorists who
will be entering and exiting the temporary bridge access ramp during
the project.
In response to a question about improving the roadway from Madisons
Main Street to the bridge, Stover said the current bridge project does
not address that issue. INDOTs Kevin Hetrick said state transportation
officials are aware of the difficult route to get to the bridge in Madison
and that they plan to study how to improve it in the future.
Asked about penalties built into the contract should the project
extend past its deadlines, Stover said the contractor would have to
pay $25,000 a day in damages for every day over the proposed 10-day
closure. A penalty of $20,000 a day would be assessed should the contractor
miss its Sept. 12, 2012, bridge opening deadline.
Walsh Construction Co. spokesman Charlie Gannon said more
than 100 workers would be involved in the project by this summer when
it gets into full force.
New road signs will be posted to direct traffic to and from
the bridge access ramps and the downstream bridge throughout the project.
No provisions can be made for natural weather occurrences,
such as flooding. The temporary access ramps on both sides of the river
are in the flood plain. Stover said, Were all crossing our
fingers and hope we have no flooding because it would certainly affect
our activities.
The Milton-Madison Bridge was built in 1929 and is too narrow for modern
traffic. Its estimated remaining useful life is 10 years. The new bridge
will look similar to the existing steel truss but will include wider
lanes and accommodations for bicycles and pedestrians.
For more information about the project,
visit: www.MiltonMadisonBridge.com.
Back to February 2011
Articles.