Rockbridge County, VA
ORDERS Construction served as general contractor on this project for the replacement and widening of twin bridges over the Maury River on a heavily traveled section of I-81. In addition, the approach roadways were widened and a truck climbing lane was added. Multiple traffic phases were required to adjust the approach alignment in order to accommodate the wider bridges.
The 800 foot-long bridge structures, one four spans and one five, totaled over 100,000 square feet of deck area, and included complex expansion devices at each end. We were attentive to environmental concerns related to the installation of four cofferdams in the Maury River for bridge piers. Regulators were pleased that we chose to span the river with a temporary bridge, in lieu of the permitted causeway for a haul road.
The project also required over 300,000 cubic yards of mostly rock excavation, with cuts between 80 and 120 feet in height immediately beside the highway. Other facets of the project included roadway drainage, asphalt paving, signing, guardrail, and installation of a new Traffic Management System. A full-time “Safety Service Patrol” was utilized due to the high traffic volumes.
We improved upon the aggressive construction schedule and earned an early completion incentive of over $400,000 for its efforts. This project also won the 2006 award for Excellence in Construction from the Staunton District.
Project Highlights
Date: 2006
Client: VDOT
Challenges: Aggressive timeline on a busy interstate system