Building Bridges

Since 1990, Aldridge has been completing scopes of work for bridges across the country. Currently, over 10% of the bridges in the United States are in serious need of repair. The work to repair these bridges will soon become paramount to public safety and maintaining structural adequacy. Aldridge is a part of many teams that are rebuilding bridges to provide safe access to thousands of people who use them every day.

Aldridge is currently working on the 1-74 Mississippi River Bridge project in Bettendorf, Iowa. In a joint effort by the Iowa and Illinois DOTs, the new bridge is part of a regional plan that will bring improved access and traffic flow across the river and to the Quad Cities.

The new bridge will feature dual basket-handle arches with main channel spans of 800 feet and will be nearly double the width of the existing bridge supporting six lanes in each direction. Our scope of work includes street and LED architectural lighting, miles of suspended conduit under the bridge for future expansion between the states, the network of power necessary to ventilate and illuminate the arches, and electronic sensor equipment to constantly monitor the structural health of the bridge. Aesthetic lighting calls for color-changing LED lighting that flanks the arches. The project team identified several pre-fabrication solutions. For example, early layout coordination allowed for conduit fabrication for each of the arch sections (six 60' long 3" steel conduits) to take place off-site rather than over the Mississippi River. By utilizing an off-site shop, both worker safety and project schedule were improved. Construction of the new bridge is scheduled for completion in 2020.

Aldridge has teamed up with South Capitol Bridge Builders on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Project in Washington, D.C., the largest project in DDOT history.

As part of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative Program, this project is concentrated on transforming the shores of the Anacostia River into a waterfront destination. A couple of unique elements were incorporated into the bridge design to increase capacity for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. First are the traffic ovals at the east and west bridge abutments that connect I-295, Suitland Parkway, and South Capitol Street. The second unique element is the dedicated pedestrian walk that spans across both sides of the bridge and around each oval. The pedestrian walk that spans the bridge includes four observatory decks, which provide unparalleled views of the D.C. waterfront.

Aldridge’s work began in June 2018. Our scope includes roadway lighting, bridge lighting (aesthetic and navigational), sign structures, traffic signaling, duct bank, communication, and Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS). Aldridge is also installing the building distribution equipment located under the bridge and will supply power, lighting, and ventilation inside the arches for maintenance workers. Construction is scheduled to be complete by 2020.

The Adams Street Bridge is one of Chicago's iconic bascule bridges, providing access over the Chicago River for commuters in downtown Chicago. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) closed the bridge for 13 months to allow for construction to take place. The three lanes of traffic, including two sidewalks, see more than 50,000 pedestrians and 15,000 vehicles daily. Aldridge operated and controlled the bridge operations during the duration of this project. Aldridge team members were trained by CDOT inspectors on bridge control and operations in order to lift the bridge. These employees lifted the bridge for the bi-annual migration of thousands of sailboats to and from Lake Michigan.

Crews installed 600’ of submarine cable to tie in the West and East Bridge Houses across the Chicago River with the use of barges and a tugboat; because of limited access for equipment installation, Aldridge engineered a solution to maneuver the electrical bridge equipment utilizing barges, hoists, and cranes. This project required the coordination of numerous agencies, including CDOT, Amtrak, Union Station, ComEd, and the Coast Guard.

Aldridge installed the duct bank inside the reconstructed viaduct structure, improved the Adams/Canal Street intersection, installed new street lighting and traffic signals, improved roadway draining, and improved the structural and electrical components of Adams Street Bascule Bridge.

The Adams Street Bascule Bridge and Viaduct Reconstruction Project won ‘Best Project’ by ENR Midwest.