Walt Whitman Bridge Redecking Fact Sheet

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1 Walt Whitman Bridge Redecking Fact Sheet Walt Whitman Bridge opened to traffic on May, 9. The DR Board of Commissioners approved two contracts totaling $9,,8. to both redeck the bridge and monitor construction of the project on May 9, 00. A $8,08,8.00 construction contract was awarded to the American Bridge Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. An $,88,08. construction monitoring contract was awarded to the joint venture of Urban Engineers Inc./ URS Corporation of Philadelphia. The redecking project will result in an entirely new deck over the Delaware River including the removal of the suspended span, installation of a new lightweight concrete filled jointless grid deck, structure improvements, new parapets and a new steel shell moveable barrier. lanes out of a total of lanes will be open for traffic during the construction.

2 Stages of Work Stage MONTHS The southernmost lane, Lane, will be closed affecting eastbound traffic from Pennsylvania. 0 0 Stage MONTHS Lane will be closed affecting eastbound traffic from Pennsylvania resulting in a Cattle Chute for the right hand eastbound lane. 0 0 Stage MONTHS Lane will be closed affecting eastbound traffic from Pennsylvania. 0 0 Stage MONTHS The middle lane, Lane, will be closed and this will not affect traffic patterns in either direction. AM RUSH HOUR :0AM-0AM ALL OTHER HOURS 0AM-:0AM 0

3 Stages of Work :0AM-0AM Stage MONTHS Lane will be closed affecting westbound traffic from New Jersey. Stage MONTHS Lane will be closed affecting westbound traffic from New Jersey resulting in a Cattle Chute for the right hand westbound lane. Stage MONTHS Lane, the northernmost lane, will be closed affecting westbound traffic from New Jersey. Stages of work are subject to change. Final paving will take place in the Spring of 0. Job completion is scheduled for the Summer of 0. AM RUSH HOUR 0 0AM-:0AM ALL OTHER HOURS

4 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ed Kasuba Date: August, WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE REDECKING OVERVIEW The Walt Whitman Bridge over the Delaware River serves as a vital artery between Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia averaging well over 00,000 vehicles traveling across it every day. One of several bridges in the United States that was designed by renowned civil engineer Othmar Hermann Ammann and his partners, the Walt Whitman Bridge was immensely popular even before it opened to vehicular traffic on May, 9. Thousands of people attended an opening ceremony for the bridge on May and later that day pedestrians were invited to walk across the structure without having to worry about traffic. That night vehicles lined up bumper to bumper to be among the first to christen the bridge when it opened at :0 A.M. More than,000 vehicles crossed the bridge during the first hour and more than,00 made the trip in the first hours. The Walt Whitman Bridge provides a connection for commuters, commercial vehicle operators carrying goods to and from the ports along the Delaware River, tourists visiting the New Jersey Shore, and countless others traveling along Interstate as well as those traveling to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. Over the years all of that traffic has resulted in a great deal of wear and tear on the bridge and its related infrastructure. After 0 years of continued service and heavy use, studies indicated it was time to reinvest in this important regional asset and to rehabilitate the corridor and Bridge. During the 90s DR replaced all of the bridge s approach roadways, ramps and spans. DR is an equal opportunity employer Mailing Address: PO Box 99 Camden New Jersey Telephone: Fax:

5 With all of the rehabilitation work on the approach spans now complete, the DR has awarded a $8 million contract to a construction firm based in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, American Bridge Company, to replace the deck in the suspension spans. An $. million construction monitoring contract was awarded to the joint venture of Urban Engineers/URS Corporation of Philadelphia. The existing grid deck will be exchanged for a more modern grid deck partially filled with lightweight concrete. This type of deck was selected because it weighs less than convention decks and therefore will help reduce the structure s dead load. In addition to being lighter, the new bridge deck will have no relief joints. The existing structure has relief joints every 00 feet. Eliminating all of the joints except those at the towers and anchorages will help to prevent water from corroding the under bridge steel stringer system. To accommodate the differential longitudinal movements between the deck and the main trusses more than,000 elastomeric bearings will be installed underneath the deck stringers allowing the decks to float on top of the superstructure. Other benefits of no relief joints include a smoother riding surface. The planned completion date for the project is Spring, 0. The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation agency. DR owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges, TCO and the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. The DR also owns the RiverLink Ferry.

6 Walt Whitman Bridge Dates of Interest October, 90 February, 9 Summer of 9 July, 9 September, 9 May, 9 Summer of 9 December 0, 9 March, 9 May, 9 August, 9 November 0, 9 February, 9 April 9, 9 June, 9 October 8, 9 May, 9 Initial investigation performed for a new river crossing. Recommendation made regarding the construction of a bridge and not a tunnel for the new river crossing. Pennsylvania and New Jersey Legislatures pass bills authorizing a bridge connecting Philadelphia with Gloucester City. The Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey approve construction of a vehicular bridge connecting Philadelphia with Gloucester City. Design of the Walt Whitman Bridge begins. Design of the Walt Whitman Bridge is complete and the DR accepts plans and specifications for the bridge. Construction begins. Construction of Gloucester City tower pier completed. Construction of Philadelphia tower pier completed. Gloucester City Tower construction completed. Philadelphia Tower construction completed. Cable spinning process begins. Cable spinning process completed. Installation of deck steel begins. Deck steel installation completed. Roadway paved. Bridge opened to traffic. 98 Deck condition assessment completed. June, 99 March, 00 April, 00 June 8, 00 June, 00 July, 00 Summer of 0 Phase Corridor Reconstruction begins. Biennial Inspection recommends considering a deck replacement. Corridor Reconstruction ends. Deck Condition Assessment completing with report recommending replacing the deck of the suspension span. State of design for Suspension Span and Anchorage Span Deck Replacement. Construction for Suspension Span and Anchorage Span Deck Replacement begins. Anticipated completion.