Van Buren Street Bridge

Category
Historic Bridges

Client
Delaware Department of Transportation

Location
Wilmington, Delaware

Key Challenges & Project Details

• Rehabilitation of a 96-year-old, 29’ wide, 353’ long, eight-span, earth-filled concrete arch bridge
• Removed earth fill and existing 48” waterline to facilitate building up piers to receive new AASHTO girders
• Rebuilt entire upstream spandrel wall, top portion of downstream spandrel wall
• Reconstructed superstructure to reflect the bridge’s original 1906 aesthetics
• Superstructure encompassed a new concrete deck, expansion dams, 5’ brick sidewalk and precast baluster parapets with precast caps set on ornamental CIP bases with CIP dividers
• Involved ornamental section mock-ups for Historical Society approval
• Also included epoxy injecting existing concrete to stay in place and surface repairs with a complete point system as a final product
• A temporary bridge was constructed along the existing structure to support a 100-ton crane
• The underside of the arch had a complete shield installed over water areas to serve as a work platform
• This fast-track project was completed on time with no extensions