Rehabilitation of the Frederick Douglass Bridge over the Anacostia River

Category
Design Build

Client
District of Columbia Department of Transportation

Location
Washington, D.C.

Key Challenges & Project Details

• Primary part of Washington, DC’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the Anacostia Waterfront
• A primary artery — one of only three highway bridges — leading into the nation’s Capital
• Required completion of demolition/reconstruction in a 62-day window
• The bridge was reopened eight days ahead of schedule
• Replaced 1,200 LF of the existing 3,000 LF structure with an at-grade roadway and architectural enhancements designed to coincide with the new Washington Nationals Stadium
• Lowered three spans (275 LF) of the bridge into a new configuration
• Overcame limited space/accessibility issues to install steel erection work under the bridge prior to closure to create a new ramp from street level
• Utilized 15 12’ tall jacking towers and 30 jacks to lower the bridge
• Rehabilitation of the steel superstructure
• 900 substructure steel repairs
• Non-reclaimable materials were removed under the supervision of the DC Department of the Environment to special contaminated material handling facilities
• 15 abandoned underground fuel storage tanks were also removed
• A design was planned and implemented to safely remove contaminated soils around the bridge and replace with clean structural backfill

Awards

• 2008 WTS-DC Chapter Innovative Transportation Solutions Award
• 2008 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), National Engineering Excellence Awards — National Finalist in Transportation Category
• 2008 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), National Capital (DC) Section — Outstanding Civil Engineering Project
• 2008 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Maryland Chapter — Outstanding Project of the Year in Transportation Category
• 2007 Mid-Atlantic Construction Best of 2007 Bridge Rehabilitation

Design Partners
Ammann & Whitney
RK & K