05/01/2008-
Massachusetts Highway Department’s
(MHD) contractor for the Walden
Street Bridge reconstruction
project, J. F. White Construction,
recently submitted a schedule
to MHD projecting a revised
project end date of late March
2009. This would extend the
bridge closure approximately
6 months past the originally
scheduled end date.
The revised protracted schedule
is primarily due to bridge pier/abutment
redesign and construction issues.
The new bridge is to be supported
by three abutments: one to the
north, one to the south of the
bridge and one immediately south
of the historic cow path (essentially
in the middle of the bridge).
In drilling the shafts that
provide structural support for
the piers/abutments, the alignment
of the shafts shifted and thus
additional analysis and redesign
was required so as to ensure
that there was no compromise
in the structural support provided
by the piers. The reinforcement
steel pattern was also revised
so as to assure adequate structural
support.
Additionally, as a result of
excavation activities associated
with the construction of the
center pier/abutment, and after
examining the foundation of
the historic cow path adjacent
to the center pier/abutment
it was determined that the pier/abutment
should be relocated away from
the arch (approximately 18 inches)
so as to ensure the continued
stability of the cow path. Furthermore,
it has been determined by MHD
that further interim measures
needed to be taken to stabilize
the arch itself during construction,
such as internal bracing, grouting
the foundation of the cow path,
repointing the bricks within
the arch and modifying excavation
activities so as to balance
forces acting on the arch. At
this time the contractor estimates
that as a result of the delays
associated with the redesign
and the additional construction
activities required, the contract
will extend into the spring
of 2009.
MHD is presently reviewing
the revised schedule proposed
by the contractor and is working
with them to assess means of
expediting some of the work
associated with the construction.
Finally it should be noted
that the revised structural
design will not impact the appearance
of the bridge from street level.
MHD has again committed to continue
to update the City as construction
moves forward. To that end,
the Department of Public Works
will continue to inform residents
with updates and will provide
information on its web page
with project progress.
3/25/2008- Based on
conversations with MassHighway,
the City has the following update:
- In mid-February, the contractor
re-mobilized on-site, and
has been working on the historic
cow path and other preparatory
activities on the Mass Ave
side.
- The historic cow path was
found to be in fairly fragile
condition, and was moved up
in the construction schedule
in order to stabilize the
arch structure before additional
demolition takes place. The
contractor is currently pointing
the existing brickwork to
strengthen the cow path arch
under heated tarps (visible
from the pedestrian bridge).
- Work on the cow path is
scheduled for completion in
late March. In early April,
removal of the remaining existing
north wall/ abutments will
begin.
- The design and construction
issues related to the new
bridge abutments have been
substantially resolved, and
so abutment work is planned
to proceed this spring.
12/20/2007- Construction
has been delayed due to the
failure to one of the shafts.
The bridge design is being modified
due the failure. More information
will be posted when it becomes
available.
For information and assistance
related to this project, please
contact Sean Magnus, MassHighway’s
Resident Engineer, at (617)
491-1215.
Previous Construction
Updates:
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