Skanska announced on June 11 a $ 303 million contract awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Transport to replace the Rourke bridge in northern Boston that has passed its useful design life.
“The reconstruction of the new Rourke bridge will support even more about the planned growth of this region to adapt to the future demand of traffic and will improve the general security and operational efficiency in this passage of the Merrimack River,” said Paul Pedini, Vice President of Skanska USA Civil Operations in a statement.
According to Massdot, the Rourke Bridge, a critical transportation on the Merrimack River in Lowell, Mass. Built in 1983 as a temporary bridge, the capacity of the bridge vehicle is insufficient and does not meet the current multimodal Ada standards for bicycle and pedestrian functions.
“One of the most significant challenges [for the design-build project] He will build the new bridge over the Merrimack River, with much of the work done from barges, “said Rob Pine, vice president of Skanska’s operations in Waltham, Mass.” Working in an active environment of the river requires careful planning to protect the water path by maintaining the project and guarantees the safety of our employees and the public. “
The construction to replace the Rourke bridge began in May and the project is expected to “achieve beneficial use with the new bridge open to all the capacity for all modes of transport in 2029,” said Massdot spokesman John Goggin in an email.
The existing bridge will remain open for use until the completion of the replacement structure. Once the new bridge opens, the existing bridge will be demolished.
Designed for a 75 -year -old life, the replacement bridge will be a structure of seven span with seven steel plate beams per reach. The project also includes the reconstruction of the intersection at both ends of the bridge, bicycles and pedestrians, improvements in the rainwater infrastructure, the lighting of the roads, the landscaping and the useful transfers.
“It will provide enlarged capacity, strength, durability and aesthetic characteristics that will serve the Lowell community and the surrounding region over the next few decades,” says Pine.
Since Massdot has received the necessary permits for the design and construction of the bridge, Skanska will “guarantee complete compliance with permits and protect sensitive areas to the environment as we design and build the bridge,” says Pine.
About 80% of projects funding is federal, with most of the other 20% from state funding. Goggin says the project will also receive $ 3.6 million in local funding.
As the project has received federal funding under the Build America Buy America Law, Pine says that the risks associated with “changing the fare policies” of the Trump Administration should decrease.
Massdot’s decision to replace the bridge was based on a study and viability analysis of the bridge and the surrounding streets that took place in 2013, indicates the Agency’s website.
