August 19th 2016 update:

Citizens, Interested Parties, and Sharp-Eyed Observers:

Gazing through the hot haze that has been hanging over our city recently, you probably have already noticed that crews have made a quite a bit of progress on the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project. In fact, according to Chris Wojtowicz, engineer, project manager, and maharishi of bridges, crews are now working on the LAST SPAN of the westbound bridge. That means big things for the upcoming fall.

You ask, “Such as . . . ?” Good question . . . .

Below is our latest collection of facts and figures and snappy photos – updated for your reading pleasure – that will update you on the LB progress. It’s great reading, as well as enlightening. Don’t skip a word of it . . . .

Feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch this construction sequence animation, please check it out.

As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them. Please feel free to pass this along to others.

Thanks again for all of your interest and patience throughout this project. Enjoy this scorching summer weather, keep the grill fired up, avoid those skeeters . . . AND STAY COOL AND SAFE!

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach

dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353
***********************************************

To All:

It’s been a little of two years since we started the construction of the new Lesner Bridge and we are about to complete a major milestone in the project – the completion of the new westbound Lesner Bridge.

As I am writing this update, McLean Contracting is loading the gantry crane with the last 14 segments for the new westbound bridge. Erection of these segments will begin on 8/19/2016 and should be completed by 8/31/2016. A lot still has to happen before we are ready to move the westbound traffic on Shore Drive from the old bridge to the new bridge, but we are still anticipating that this traffic switch will occur sometime in early October 2016.

Between now and then, crews will be finishing the parapet wall, handrail, pavement planing and grooving of the bridge deck, installation of temporary barrier service across the new bridge for the pedestrian and bicycle path, temporary pavement markings, and paving of the traffic transition areas located at Page Avenue and at East Stratford Street.

The next 45 days will be very busy preparing the new bridge for the traffic switch, so we will provide frequent project updates on the progress of this work as we near a firm date for the movement of traffic to the new bridge.

One obvious question keeps coming up now that we have reached the other side of the Lynnhaven Inlet with our gantry crane: “Where the heck are we going to store this large piece of equipment until it is ready to be used for the new eastbound bridge?”

The answer? Once we finish erecting Span 10 of the bridge, the gantry will be “walked” back to the west until it reaches Span 1 of the bridge. From there it will be moved horizontally to the north side of the bridge using rollers and temporary steel falsework to slide the entire gantry to falsework now being installed on the beach near 3556 On the Bay Condominiums. It will remain in this location for approximately six months until it is needed for the eastbound bridge, and then it will be moved across the new westbound Lesner Bridge using the same roller and rail system to position the gantry ready to erect the new eastbound Lesner Bridge.

Temporary Steel Falsework being installed on the north side of the new westbound Lesner Bridge and west of Lynnhaven Inlet

View from the new westbound Lesner Bridge looking east-southeast ta the last remaining span (10) of the bridge

Since the last project update (6/15/2016), the following work has been completed:

· The main span (Span 5) of the westbound bridge was completed;

· Spans 7, 8, and 9 have been completed;

· The remaining expansion segment of the westbound bridge was set in Span 10;

· All segment casting for the westbound bridge was completed;

· Bridge conduit systems have been completed up to Span 6;

· The new 16-inch water main has been completed up to Span 6;

· Completed installation of the temporary trench drains along the north side of each bridge approach;

· Finished handrail installation along the retaining wall in front of 3556 On the Bay Condominiums.

Completed Handrail on top of parapet wall of new westbound Lesner Bridge

AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the superstructure of the new Lesner Bridge. All segments have been cast and are now complete for the westbound bridge. A total of 29 of the 168 bridge segments have been cast for the new eastbound bridge.

Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:

· Load the gantry with all of the Span 10 segments;

· Complete erection of Span 10 of the westbound Lesner Bridge;

· Grind and groove bridge deck between Spans 4 and 6;

· Begin painting bridge superstructure and substructure starting at Span 1;

· Install parapets and barrier wall along bridge Spans 4, 5, & 6;

· Install bridge conduit system through bridge Span 9;

· Install 16-inch water main through bridge Span 9;

· Complete water meter relocation and installation of storm water structures on East Stratford Street in front of 3556 On the Bay Condominiums.

That’s it for now. Please drive safely!

– Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com

Screen shot of Construction Cam westbound view taken 8am August 20th 2016