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IMMEDIATE Sandy Myers 540-332-9201 Sandy.Myers@VDOT.Virginia.gov Sande Snead 804-225-4491 |
CO-STAN-118 Sept. 22, 2005 |
VDOT WINS NATIONAL HONOR FOR BRIDGE TEAMWORK
Bridge and Rail Improvements Achieved “Under Traffic”
Reconstruction of a bridge over Route 683 and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks earned the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) a national quality award. The National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) gave its 2005 State Award to VDOT, its Staunton District staff and general contractor Fairfield-Skanska, Inc. for “a project whose outstanding work exemplifies the best in construction quality and customer-oriented quality practices.”
The work, designed to replace a deficient bridge on Route 340 over the Norfolk Southern Railway and Virginia Route 683, just north of Shenandoah in southern Page County, was designed entirely in-house by VDOT’s Staunton District staff. Keith Weakley, P.E., of the Staunton District Bridge Office, was the bridge designer. Charlie Gardner and Les Kodger of Staunton District’s Location and Design Office did the road design work.
The bridge team faced multiple challenges including adjacent residential, commercial and agricultural properties, 6,500 vehicles a day on the road, and 12 trains daily. Completing the project under traffic, with no disruptions to the railroad or access to adjacent homes, businesses, and farms, was problematic.
Despite the challenges, the Virginia team constructed just west of the existing structure a new, two-lane 50.5-meter single-span steel-girder bridge – one of the longest in Virginia.
The team demolished the old structure, built the new bridge and added new grading, storm sewers, asphalt paving, curbs and gutter replacements. They even worked through a huge wedge of solid limestone rock. The project was completed two days early with no accidents or disruptions.
“The successful completion and top quality of this new bridge is something we see as a direct result of the good communications, teamwork and partnership at every step by the Virginia project management team,” said Bob Templeton, executive director of NPHQ.
NPHQ is a partnership of federal, state and roadway industry leaders that advocates customer-centered practices to produce better, safer, more user-friendly roads and bridges.
The work, designed to replace a deficient bridge on Route 340 over the Norfolk Southern Railway and Virginia Route 683, just north of Shenandoah in southern Page County, was designed entirely in-house by VDOT’s Staunton District staff. Keith Weakley, P.E., of the Staunton District Bridge Office, was the bridge designer. Charlie Gardner and Les Kodger of Staunton District’s Location and Design Office did the road design work.
The bridge team faced multiple challenges including adjacent residential, commercial and agricultural properties, 6,500 vehicles a day on the road, and 12 trains daily. Completing the project under traffic, with no disruptions to the railroad or access to adjacent homes, businesses, and farms, was problematic.
Despite the challenges, the Virginia team constructed just west of the existing structure a new, two-lane 50.5-meter single-span steel-girder bridge – one of the longest in Virginia.
The team demolished the old structure, built the new bridge and added new grading, storm sewers, asphalt paving, curbs and gutter replacements. They even worked through a huge wedge of solid limestone rock. The project was completed two days early with no accidents or disruptions.
“The successful completion and top quality of this new bridge is something we see as a direct result of the good communications, teamwork and partnership at every step by the Virginia project management team,” said Bob Templeton, executive director of NPHQ.
NPHQ is a partnership of federal, state and roadway industry leaders that advocates customer-centered practices to produce better, safer, more user-friendly roads and bridges.
Page last modified: Sept. 22, 2005
