The original 12th Street Bridge was built in 1890, and crossed the Kansas River and the Santa Fe Railroad, connecting the Armourdale and Argentine districts of Kansas City, KS. Over the years, the structure has caught fire as a result of a passing steam locomotive and suffered a partial collapse following river flooding which undermined one of the support piers.

The bridge may have survived adversity over the years, but it could not survive the demolition charges that dropped the 1,037 ft. (316 m) span into the Kansas River on March 19, 1999.

The demolition was part of a $7.1-million contract awarded by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT to Massman Construction of Kansas City, MO, to replace the existing structure and replace it with a 1,024 ft. (312 m) concrete and steel bridge. The design contract was awarded to HNTB Companies of Kansas City, MO.

With a proceed date of Jan. 11, 1999, in hand, Massman prepared to demolish the existing structure. This presented special challenges because of the structure’s close proximity to both residential and industrial areas. Monitors were set up at each end of the span to record seismic levels from the blast. Additionally, portions of the old span that crossed five tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad had to be removed piecemeal to avoid disrupting rail traffic. This proved successful as rail traffic was disrupted for only two 30 minute periods.

The Kansas River also presented problems. According to Project Manager Pat Byrne, river levels fluctuated from 5 ft. (1.5 m) above flood stage to 8 ft. (2.4 m) below normal low water during the course of the project. Also, an unknown buried obstruction delayed construction of the new river pier.

Once the old structure was removed, auger shafts for the pilings were drilled to support the new piers. J.D. Fields & Company Inc. of Plainfield, IL, supplied 389,068 lbs. (176,481 kg) of “H” piling. Massman used both a Manitowoc 4000W and 4100SII for all aerial needs. Piles were bored using a 175-CH Calweld drill mounted on the 4000W Manitowoc. The drill powered a 132 ft. by 11 in. (40.2 m by 27.9 cm) Kelly Bar, driving an 8 ft. (2.4 m) double flight auger. The deepest shaft depth was 153 ft. deep by 8 ft. in diameter (46.6 by 2.43 m).

Stupp Bridge of St. Louis, MO, supplied the structural steel. BSC Steel Inc. of Kansas City, MO, subcontracted for the erection of the structural steel and installation of expansion joints and drainage system.

Service barges were used on all river work, and to hold materials such as rebar, concrete forms and structural steel. They also were employed to collect spoils during the boring operation. These barges were serviced by Massman’s “M.V. Ray Pensrum” tug.

Five hundred and thirty-seven thousand pounds (243,430 kg) of rebar was installed during construction. All-Pro Construction Company of Grandview, MO, placed the rebar and installed all pre-cast deck panels. Fordyce Concrete Company Inc. of Overland Park, KS, supplied the 4,316 cu. yds. (3,300 cu m) of concrete. The river came into play again as one concrete pour for a river pier required double handling by cranes.

Kaw Valley Contracting of Kansas City, KS, performed all excavation and final grade work.

The project was completed on Sept. 1, 2000. The finished span provided a single traffic lane with a shoulder each way, along with one sidewalk.

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