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In partnership with Columbia County, Larson Design Group (LDG) recently completed work on a bridge in Pine Township, Pennsylvania designing a new structure to provide a safe and efficient crossing for the public. A ribbon-cutting was held on Oct. 31, 2019 with representatives from LDG and the Columbia County Commissioners. Nestlerode Contracting Company, Inc., also served on the project as contractor.
The previous bridge, which carried Shingle Run Road over West Branch Shingle Run, was in poor condition, with advanced section loss to the primary steel beams that resulted in a weight limit restriction of 12 tons, except combinations 18 tons. This weight restriction limited the use of the bridge for local deliveries and the local fire department; a significant detour would be required to be traveled by the larger fire trucks in the event of an emergency. The Commissioners made this structure a priority for replacement and utilized liquid fuels funding to pay for the new structure.
The new structure remains on a similar horizontal and vertical alignment and is a 54’ long prestressed concrete spread box beam bridge with an 8” thick reinforced concrete deck bearing on geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) abutments. The GRS abutments, which consist of layers of compacted stone placed between layers of high strength geotextile, are approximately 60 to 70 percent cheaper than conventional reinforced concrete abutments. The use of the GRS abutment savings will help the County fund their next transportation project.
“We were proud to lend our expertise to a project that Columbia County designated as a priority – this was crucial to improving the safety of both the general public and first responders such as fire departments,” said Dave Gunsallus, Director of Bridge Design for LDG. “The new bridge will ensure that safety for many years to come.”
Founded in 1986, Larson Design Group is an award-winning national architecture, engineering and planning firm with 11 offices in four states and a vision to elevate client relationships, enrich the careers and lives of its employee-owners, and enhance the communities in which it operates. LDG’s Transportation Division offers bridge inspection, surveying, construction inspection and highway, bridge and traffic design services. For more information, visit www.larsondesigngroup.com.