Bridges and Structures

When a bridge over a long dried-up stream near a mining community needed repair, the DOT called us. Instead of simply repairing the bridge, RETTEW’s expert engineers took a step back to look at the big picture. Working with the Bureau of Mine Reclamation and other agencies, we learned the stream had been diverted for mining and would not return to its original location where the old bridge was constructed. We advised the state to tear down the bridge and fill the area instead of spending money to replace the structure. Years of experience helped us identify a more sustainable solution – and also provided cost savings to the taxpayer.

What do you do with an old railway bridge built in 1905 that’s no longer used but is a piece of regional pride? Turn it into a treasured and sought-after recreational trail and park space. We shared our client’s vision too. RETTEW was initially tasked with simply adding a new deck after completing small repairs to the support towers. Unfortunately, rehabilitating the old railway bridge for a new purpose was cost-prohibitive for the owner. That’s when we went to work to help the owner secure grant funding and complete the project. Today, the trail bridge is a regional attraction – attracting bikers and hikers from surrounding states. In addition, the businesses on either side of the bridge are thriving from the influx of visitors.

In a state with nearly 32,000 bridges, some are bound to be historical and in need of preservation. One of those century-old bridges was washed downstream when a tropical storm created some of the worst flooding ever seen. Our client wanted to put the bridge back together but have it sit a little higher to avoid future flooding. The bigger challenge? Creating a sound structure using as much wood from the original historic landmark as possible. Craftsmanship and even the species of wood used in some places needed to be protected. RETTEW’s team moved the bridge from the stream to dry land and methodically took it apart to salvage what we could. Working with historic preservation teams and the owner, we designed a new bridge that showcases the original wood, craftsmanship, and cultural signage on the inside so drivers could readily see a piece of history.

Old bridges need attention sometimes, but for one municipality, it was more than that. This old bridge didn’t have enough clearance for trucking lines. But how do you raise a bridge without disrupting school districts, commuter traffic, surrounding wetlands and streams, and an adjacent sewer plant? The experts at RETTEW devised a plan to build a new bridge a mere 25 feet away, remove the old bridge, and save the community half a million dollars in the process.

I-80 is a major interstate, so updating and upgrading its many miles was not a small undertaking. But facing a large, complex project with an aggressive schedule didn’t faze the team at RETTEW. The rehabilitation included more than 8 miles of roadway and replacing eight different bridges. One was a dual bridge carrying SR80 eastbound and westbound over SR3003. We redesigned the 3-span slab bridges while also providing multiple alternative routes for traffic control during construction. How do you keep people moving during a months-long project? The engineers over-widened the replacement bridges, staged demolition of the existing and temporary bridges, and detoured traffic into the median.

Route 56 runs right through the heart of Johnstown, PA. A large Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure provides flood protection, but the viaduct over the whole city needed to be rehabbed. RETTEW’s team didn’t flinch at the massive project. We coordinated with multiple railroad companies, underground utility companies, the Army Corps, and the city’s event and tourism divisions. With Route 56 as the only way in and out of Johnstown, each stage of the project needed to be highly coordinated. Not only were there four bridges crossing the same river, but a previous rockslide area needed to be shored up and a recreational trail restored. Among the bridges was a stone masonry railroad arch from the 1800s and a ramp to the historical “world’s steepest vehicular inclined plane.”