The Sandy Ford girder erection of the new single span 214’ structure over Vermillion River at Sandy Ford Nature Area in Lasalle County, IL presented numerous challenges including difficult site access, a limited permit for river work, and very long heavy girders.  To facilitate the construction of the structure, Westbrook designed a girder launching system to allow the girders to be constructed and braced together behind the abutment and “launched” into place.  Supply chain issues in a tight timeline prevented this plan from being implemented.

Westbrook put together an alternate girder erection design that required two cranes to pick and hold individual girder sections in place while they were air-spliced.  Then two additional cranes held this first girder in place until the second girder sections were set, air-spliced, and diaphragmed to the first girder.  Westbrook provided on-site inspection to ensure the Sandy Ford girder erection was performed per plan.

I-74 over Vermillion River in Danville, IL was an existing (2) girder fracture critical 750’ long structure built in 1962 and is being replaced with a redundant (6) girder steel plate girder structure, re-using the same substructure units.   Westbrook provided all aspects of the construction engineering.

Westbrook analyzed the existing I-74 over Vermillion River structure throughout removal operation stages. Existing superstructure removal was performed with an excavator on the structure removing concrete deck panels.  Steel girders were picked with a crane below the structure, on a Westbrook designed causeway and temporary bridge to maintain river flow.

The new structure girder erection and all aspects of the stability of the girders during construction was designed by Westbrook.  We also provided designs for the bridge deck falsework, falsework at the vaulted abutment span, and temporary work platforms.

Phase one can be seen within the photos attached and has been completed. Phase 2 is currently in motion; just recently the pier caps have been poured.

 

Work is ongoing at the Lake Park Pedestrian Bridge over Ravine Road in Milwaukee, WI.  Zenith Tech hired Westbrook to calculate design loads for shoring the existing historic arch bridge for a rehabilitation project.  The structure was built around 1905 and has been closed since 2014 due to its deteriorated condition. The rehabilitation project includes replacing the vaulted abutments, replacing the deck, railing and repairing the deteriorating concrete of the arch.

 

Throughout 2021 we were busy working on two projects for STH 80 in Richland County, Wisconsin.

Westbrook worked with the City of Richland Center to construct the first 480 feet of a shared use-path for pedestrian and bicycle use along Hwy 80 South.  The path connects the existing pedestrian path along STH 80 north of the Pine River Bridge to the newly constructed path outside the STH 80 right-of-way.  Westbrook designed this 480-ft portion of the path and worked along with the City of Richland Center to obtain permission from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to connect the path to the existing path north of the Pine River and construct a new portion of the path within the existing road right-of-way.
This project is part of the Safe Routes to School Program. Although we’re based out of Spring Green, WI, we have strong ties to our neighborhood communities. Several of our employees reside in the Richland Center area and have children within the Richland School District. We’re proud to be a part of such a great project that will be great for students and families!

The STH 80 rehabilitation project from the Wisconsin River to CTH RC was also constructed in 2021.  The project involved milling and overlaying STH 80, as well as, improving safety through the replacement of existing beam guard and installation of new beam guard along STH 80.