Project: I-81 over Leitersburg Road. Grid Manufacturer: LB Foster 

Location: Franklin County, PA. Contractor: Cottle’s Asphalt Maintenance

Install Date: 2015. Design Engineering Company: Century Engineering

Bridge Owner: PennDOT

 

Project Description: With no viable detour of I-81 in Antrim Township, PA, it was necessary to keep all four lanes of traffic flowing during peak hours while replacing the NB and SB superstructures over Leitersburg Road. This challenge resulted in an accelerated project to replace both superstructures, consisting of nearly 10,000 square feet of deck in only 48 days using a single lane crossover and partial width staged construction (four stages). 

Notable Features of Project: A precast grid reinforced concrete deck was used to accelerate the project and played an imperative role in allowing the owner to set such an aggressive schedule. It took roughly 21 days to complete the first two stages and replace the first superstructure and deck, but the learning curve was short and the Cottle’s Asphalt crew was able to wrap up the remaining stages in even less time while absorbing a 3 day holiday slowdown. The closure pours were high performance concrete reaching 4 ksi in less than 20 hours, allowing the contractor to access the bridge with equipment to place the CIP parapets. The project was completed in a mere 41 days, a full week ahead of schedule!