Crews currently are working towards completion of a bridge rehabilitation project in McKeesport, Pa.

The project consists of structural rehabilitation of the 1,934 ft. (589 m) long William D. Mansfield Memorial Bridge, which crosses over the Monongahela River connecting McKeesport and Dravosburg. Passing beneath its span are State Route 837, the southbound lanes of West Fifth Avenue, a CSX rail line and a Norfolk Southern rail line.

Steel from the Wabash railway bridge was melted down and used in the original 1948 construction. This is not the first rehabilitation that the Mansfield Bridge has seen. In 1982, the bridge deck was resurfaced with asphalt, the steel structure was painted and new lights and concrete barriers were installed.

The full contract amount for the current projet of $33,623,404.28 was awarded by the Allegheny County Department of Public Works to Joseph B. Fay Company, with Tyson Hicks serving as project manager. The project began on Jan.10, 2012, and is scheduled for completion by Dec. 15, 2014. It currently is running approximately one month ahead of schedule.

The structural work includes the replacement of the concrete bridge deck, expansion dams and seismically vulnerable bearings. In addition, there are structural steel repairs, concrete substructure repairs, placement of scour protection at the river piers and the painting of the entire bridge. Contract work at the adjacent roadway includes pavement repairs, bituminous overlay, railing replacement and sidewalk rehab.

According to Stephen G. Shanley, interim director of the Allegheny County Department of County Works, the most challenging aspects of the project include the painting of the full bridge, installation of the new deck, installation of new bearings and steel repair. The challenges result from the magnitude of work needed to be completed in these areas. The project involves 4,300 cu. yd. (3,287 cu m) of deck concrete, 161,000 lbs. (73,028 kg) of steel repairs and $13 million in painting.

The construction is phased to allow continuous traffic across the bridge throughout the duration of the project. This was accomplished by shifting traffic to the northbound lane of the bridge while repairs were being made to the southbound lane of the bridge. The northbound lanes were completed in June of 2013, and the southbound lanes will open to traffic in the fall of 2014.

The heavy construction list for the job includes in part 40 to 135 ft. (12 to 41 m) personnel lifts; skid steers; a Cat 318 rubber tire excavator; a Gradall XL3300; a Volvo L 70 loader; and a Komatsu PC228 excavator.

For demolition work, the list includes Kobelco 115 excavators and a Komatsu PC 228 excavator.

Major subcontractors include Avalotis for painting and Alvarez for steel. Both are from western Pennsylvania.

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