STATE STREET BRIDGE

Contracting Agent:
Allan A. Myers, Inc.

Project Location:
Hamburg, PA

Project Highlights:

Beginning in late August and extending into the New Year, Atlantic Concrete Cutting completed work on the rehabilitation of the State Street Bridge in Hamburg, PA. Allan A Myers, Inc. contracted with ACC to perform wire sawing and diesel slab sawing as part of the selective demolition of the 108 year old bridge. Originally constructed seven years before production of Ford’s first Model-T, the 380-foot long open-spandrel arch bridge was deemed structurally deficient in 1990.

ACC employees started Phase 1 to remove sidewalk and stirrup sections of the bridge on August 27th, 2009. Diesel slab sawing, with blades up to 54” diameter, were used to make cuts and plunges through the sidewalk and outside beam. Hi-cycle Plattner wire saws were used to cut the structural stirrups. In all, 85 sidewalk sections and 71 stirrups were removed.

Once Phase 1 cutting was complete, the contractor began construction of a temporary working surface under the bridge deck to allow for cutting and hand demolition of the roadway and bridge beams. During this time the contractor worked with an engineer to formulate an ordered demolition plan. The condition of the bridge limited crane size and restricted the sectioned pieces to a maximum weight of seven tons.

In the weeks leading up to Phase 2, multiple planning and safety meetings were conducted both on site and at Atlantic’s Mt. Holly office. Scope of work, demolition order, safety requirements, and expectations were all discussed. Jeff Boggs, the Project Manager, worked closely with the contractor to develop a very aggressive schedule while maintaining a focus on safety. The Allan A Myers Company had an all-inclusive “Stop Work” policy enabling any on-site personnel to stop the job with safety concerns. With years of experience in bridge demolition, ACC employees knew they would be integral in the safety of the project.

Phase 2 cutting began on November 18th, 2009. The selective demolition required a combination of 9” bridge deck sawing and concrete beam wire sawing. Each piece would have to be rigged and held by the crane before any cutting was done. ACC provided two wire saws to help minimize down time between picks. Work continued through the holidays, hunting season, and an early winter storm until the final piece was removed on January 12th, 2010. In all, Phase 2 required 30 shifts and 151 individual picks.

Jim Clark, Mark Jones, Tom Penza, and Art Swindell all contributed to the completion of this safe and successful project. Their combined efforts and dedication to hard work is not overlooked. Atlantic Concrete Cutting remains the best option for contractors requiring concrete cutting and core drilling services and the State St Bridge demolition project is another fine example of Atlantic’s desire to be the industry standard.

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