From the classic update from a comedian in COVB Media and a guy from Public Works who <3 the Lesner:
This move will be conducted over three nights: June 19th, 20th, and 21st.
Structural Scholars/Bridge Aficionados/Bored Readers:
For those of you who were wondering: “What am I going to read on the beach this weekend,” or “What can I read late at night that will stir me intellectually and heighten my awareness about structural engineering,” I have an answer – Before you is the latest from the Czar of Bridges, Chris Wojo, the Kingfish.
This is IMPORTANT information, so please take note. The Fish speaks of moving the gantry, substructure work, overheight vehicles, and most importantly . . . CLOSING SHORE DRIVE for a BRIEF period. He has gone to great pains to scratch out everything in details, and I have gone to great pains to check for spelling and punctuation errors . . . I know, it’s dirty work, but someone has to do it. It’s my lot in life.
There truly is a lot of information here and we are doing everything we can to get the word out to the local community so that everyone is aware of what will be taking place. Chris and his team have worked very hard to schedule everything so that there is a minimum of inconvenience to everyone.
We will be posting the latest info on our web pages, as well as the City’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. If you know of an organization or groups we should alert, please let me know and I will be glad to contact them. And if you haven’t already signed up for the City’s FB page or Twitter account, I encourage you to do so so that you receive timely updates from all things City-related.
As always, we appreciate your questions and e-mails, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. 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. So . . . stay safe, look out for each other, and put the phone down while you’re driving.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353*****************************************
Folks:
A lot of you have been asking, “When is the gantry going to be moved?” Now that time has come. I hope most of you have heard about or seen the message on the portable signs on Shore Drive:
LES BRDG CLOSED 12AM-4AM
JUNE 19 THRU JUNE 24We have reached that point in the construction schedule where we need the gantry crane that is currently stored on the north side of Shore Drive to be put in place so that the superstructure of the new eastbound Lesner Bridge can be assembled.
To do this, we need to temporarily close Shore Drive to slide the gantry over the roadway and into position on the south side of Shore Drive.
This move will be conducted over three nights: June 19th, 20th, and 21st.
We will need short-term closures of Shore Drive between the hours of 12 midnight and 4 am, so as to disrupt as little traffic as possible. Note: One lane of the bridge will be kept open for use by emergency vehicles. In the event that emergency vehicles need to cross the bridge during this time, work will be temporarily halted to let the emergency vehicles cross the bridge. The detour route for all other vehicles during these dates and times is provided below.
Detour Route for the Temporary Short-Term Closure of Lesner Bridge
The move of the gantry crane will take place with the following anticipated schedule:
Monday, June 19th: 12 midnight through 4 am.
We will be:
+ Installing two support beams across Shore Drive to connect the falsework on the north side of the bridge to the falsework located on the south side
+ Connecting cables from the winches located on the south side of the bridge to the gantry located on the north side.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: OVERHEAD CLEARANCE WILL BE 13’9” THEREFORE, OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO USE ANOTHER ROUTE UNTIL THE SUPPORT BEAMS ARE REMOVED
Tuesday, June 20th: 12 midnight until 4 a.m.
We will be:
+ Completing preparations to the gantry rolling system and survey the falsework to ensure proper alignment of the channels.
+ Winching the gantry across Shore Drive and onto the falsework located on the south side of the bridge.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: AGAIN . . . OVERHEAD CLEARANCE WILL BE 13’9” THEREFORE, OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO USE ANOTHER ROUTE UNTIL THE SUPPORT BEAMS ARE REMOVED.
Wednesday, June 21st: 12 midnight until 4 a.m.
We will be:
+ Removing the two support beams from the falsework that crosses Shore Drive.
+ Re-opening Shore Drive to traffic.
NOTE: NO RESTRICTIONS TO OVERHEIGHT VEHICLES.
Gantry Support Falsework
Gantry Move
Other Bridge Construction News:
In addition to the preparations being made for the gantry move, substructure work on the new bridge continues.
Piers 1 and 2 (of 9) of the new eastbound bridge have been completed. All of the drilled shaft foundations and the footing for Pier 3 have been completed and only one drilled shaft remains to be installed for the foundation at Pier 4.Reinforcing Steel at Pier Column 3
As McLean continues to build the new bridge substructure from the west, they are also continuing the demolition of the old bridges to the east and have completed approximately 80% of this demolition.
Bridge Demolition on the East side of Lynnhaven Inlet
AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the superstructure of the new Lesner Bridge. A total of 143 of the 168 segments have been cast for the new eastbound bridge. It is expected that all bridge segments for the eastbound bridge will be cast by August 2017.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:+ Continue bridge demolition;
+ Place concrete and complete construction of Pier #3;
+ Place reinforcing steel and concrete in the footing for Pier #4;
+ Install the falsework and seal slab for Pier #5;
+ Install the falsework and seal slab for Pier #6:
+ Place the leveling pad for the new MSE wall along the south side of Shore Drive between East Stratford Street and the new bridge;
+ Continue filling and grading operations at the new bridge abutments;
+ Install the new traffic signal pole and mast arm on the southeast corner of Shore Drive and East Stratford Street (to be done during the night of the Shore Drive Road closure on June 19th – 20th).
Other information regarding the status of the bridge construction can also be found at http://www.vbgov.com\lesner-bridge
As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding this project and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Drive Safely!
-ChrisChristopher 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
#WeLoveShoreDrive 