Friday, November 15, 2013

Flagler Memorial Bridge Update

West Palm Beach/Town of Palm Beach – Following two days of inspection and surveying, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has determined that the recently completed repair system on the Flagler Memorial Bridge is performing as anticipated and there is no additional structural distress to the existing piers because of the recent settlement. 

The project team will continue to monitor the bridge over the weekend. On Monday, Nov. 18, PCL, the contractor for the bridge replacement project, will begin span lock repairs. The bridge is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic (one lane in each direction, including trucks), on Monday, Nov. 25, contingent on no additional settlement. 

PCL will not resume work on the main piers for the new bridge until after May 1, 2014, to minimize potential impacts and assure that the existing bridge remains open to traffic for the 2013/2014 Season. If the bridge continues to settle after work on the main bridge piers resumes, the department will revisit the need to close the bridge for safety reasons. 

Prior to May 1, 2014, the redundant foundations will be re-jacked to assure that the repair system is carrying the full load of the bridge. The department and the project team will consider redesigning the remaining foundations for the new bridge, in order to minimize further settlement of the existing structure, with the intent of maintaining traffic throughout construction. Potential time and cost impacts of a redesign will be evaluated. 

The Flagler Memorial Bridge was closed to vehicular traffic following settlement detected on Tuesday, Nov. 12, which affected the span locks that hold the bridge spans in place when they are in the down position. Approximately one inch of settlement was recorded between Tuesday, Nov. 12 and Wednesday, Nov. 13. There has been no additional settlement in the last 24 hours. 

The Flagler Memorial Bascule Bridge (drawbridge) Replacement Design/Build Project includes replacing the existing bridge with a new bascule bridge connecting the Town of Palm Beach and the City of West Palm Beach over the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway. The new bridge is being built south of the existing bridge, which will remain open during construction. The Flagler Drive overpass will be replaced with an “at-grade” intersection. New lighting, pedestrian features, traffic signals, drainage, and landscaping are also included in this project. The estimated cost of this project is $94.2 million. 

For more information about the Flagler Memorial Bridge Replacement Project, please call Public Information Officer Tish Burgher at (561) 702-9096 or email her at Tish@qcausa.com. Project information can also be found on the project website: www.flaglerbridge.com