The Royalton, Vt., bridge project involves the rehabilitation of two bridges carrying Interstate 89 northbound and southbound over the White River, the New England Central Railroad and Vt. Route 107. The project is being contracted by Beck & Bellucci of Franklin, N.H., with assistance from Monoko.
Work on the $38.9 million project began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed by June 2028.
VTrans photo
According to a VTrans fact sheet, “The bridge maintenance project addresses structural deficiencies and deterioration in the existing deck, superstructure and substructure. The deck will be completely replaced, as will the expansion joints. The existing substandard bridge and approach rails will be replaced with newer designs meeting current standards. Repairs to the substructure include patching deteriorated surfaces, crack repair and rehabilitation of some beam seats. Bearings will be cleaned and some will be replaced.”
According to Dale Sackett, executive vice president of Beck & Bellucci, the work on both bridges includes:
• Removing and replacing the bridge decks,
• Constructing cast-in-place concrete bridge rails,
• Performing repairs to the structural steel,
• Repainting all structural steel,
• Removing and repairing deteriorated portions of the concrete substructures,
• Replacing bearings that support the structural steel, and
• Repaving I-89 northbound and southbound, as well as on- and off-ramps in the vicinity of the bridges.
VTrans photo
“Work on the northbound bridge was completed between spring 2024 and fall 2025,” said Sackett. “Work on the southbound bridge, currently under way, is scheduled for completion between spring 2026 and fall 2027. Final completion of the project is scheduled for June 28, 2028.”
Drosso Monokandilos, manager of Monoko, a Tarpon Springs, Fla.-based company, said the firm sandblasted the steel beneath the bridge and also will apply protective coatings.
“I put up a platform and sandblasted it, and next year I'll apply an intermediate coat of paint after repairs are completed,” he said.
Beck & Bellucci photo
Sackett said equipment used by Beck & Bellucci on the Royalton bridge project includes a Link-Belt 218 HSL lattice boom crawler crane; Link-Belt 80110 and 8050 rough-terrain cranes; Cat 329 and 325 excavators; Cat 930H and 903 loaders; a Cat 246 skid steer; GOMACO screed machines; and an Anderson HP-35 under-bridge work platform.
Monokandilos said Monoko utilized a Safespan platform system, an ARS dust collector, an ARS six-spot recycle machine, and 1,800 CFM compressors.
