MDOT recently awarded Reed & Reed the $13.75mm contract to replace the West Approach Bridge in Bath. The viaduct bridge carries RT 1 traffic through Bath onto the Sagadahoc Bridge over the Kennebec River.
The project has complex traffic challenges, being adjacent to downtown Bath and Bath Iron Works. In order to limit traffic impacts, MDOT has allowed the viaduct to be closed to RT 1 thru-traffic from October 18 to May 25. Traffic will be detoured to the Leeman Highway Frontage Roads, below the viaduct, during this time period.
On-site work this summer includes installation of new drainage on the Frontage Road, replacement of the Washington St railroad crossing and rehabilitation of the South Abutment. Reed & Reed crews will also be precasting concrete pier caps at our Woolwich dockyard.
Work during the closure includes demolition of the 1200 LF viaduct superstructure and 19 pier shafts. 19 new cast-in-place concrete pier shafts will be constructed on the existing footings. Precast concrete pier caps, weighing 60 tons, will be erected and grouted in place. The new superstructure consists of 80 precast concrete NEXT beams, weighing 50 tons each. Closures between the NEXT beams will be made using Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, with strengths of 20,000 PSI. The wearing surface will be membrane and pavement. The bridge rail will be steel rail, similar to the Sagadahoc Bridge.
Reed & Reed crews will be working day and night during the closure period to complete the work. MDOT has heavy monetary bonus and penalty incentives to assure the work is completed on schedule. The new viaduct must be open to traffic by May 25 and the project complete by June 30, 2017.