Construction of the new bridge on SR-243 at Cedar Creek in Franklin County is progressing.
Last week, contractor Miller & Miller poured about 145 cubic yards of concrete to form the bridge deck — the future riding surface — on the single-span replacement bridge.
Concrete delivered to the site south of Russellville aboard 17 mixer trucks was transferred onto the bridge by boom pumps as it arrived throughout the day. A screed and workers with tools leveled and finished the freshly-poured concrete.
Project timeline
Last summer, the $2.8 million bridge replacement project began with grading the approaches and demolishing the 60-year-old bridge.
Subcontractor Russo Corporation then drilled deep foundations for the two bridge abutments. Russo constructed six drilled shafts, each from 20 to 30 feet deep. Each abutment was constructed atop three of the concrete-filled foundations.
In January, Miller & Miller installed five prestressed concrete girders — horizontal beams to support the deck. Cranes lifted the 137-foot-long, six-foot-tall girders into position, with one end seated on each abutment.
Old vs. new
Unlike the old four-span bridge, the new bridge is a single-span bridge with no piers between abutments.
Though just four feet longer than the old bridge, the new bridge is about seven feet wider, improving the roadway across the bridge by adding shoulder space. The finished grade elevation of the new bridge is about 4.5 feet higher than that of the old bridge.
Remaining work
Remaining work items include constructing the concrete bridge rails, paving the approaches to the bridge, and installing guardrail and traffic stripe.
ALDOT anticipates completion of the project this summer.
For now, through traffic on SR-243 must continue to use the official detour or other alternate routes.
For real-time traffic and road condition information, visit ALGOtraffic.com or download the ALGO Traffic app.
