RT 57 Bridge over Red Creek
Gulf Coast Prestress

Involved Companies

Background

The scope was to replace a deteriorating through truss bridge that was built in the 1950’s.  The new bridge was on a new alignment and the old bridge stayed open during construction. In September of 2017 the bridge had been hit and the damage was severe.  It was decided it was not worth repairing and the bridge remained closed. 

Because this bridge was on MDOT’s priority replacement list, plans were already complete and right of way had been acquired. MDOT’s process for early plan development of at-risk bridges saved taxpayers from having to pay half a million dollars to repair a bridge that was already deficient and warranted replacement. By doing this, MDOT was able to get a contract in place and start construction on a new bridge much sooner.

At the time of the accident, 90% construction plans has been created. It was decided to replace the bridge and final plans were expedited and a special letting was held in December of 2017.  The new concrete bridge is accessible to all forms of traffic, "benefiting residents, businesses, commercial vehicle and freight traffic and promoting economic development in the area," according to MDOT.

Innovations

This was MDOT’s first design-bid-build post-tensioned I-girder.  MDOT’s other post-tensioned I-girders were either design-build projects or value engineering requests after construction was started.  In the past, MDOT has stated they would have used a steel plate girder due to the span lengths.