From an email from Bayfront Advisory Committee:
BOTH directions of Shore Drive over the Lesner Bridge will be reduced to ONE LANE between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.1, as crews repair a leaking 16-inch water main line. Affected lanes for this closure will be the INSIDE lanes both east and west bound, said Christopher J. Wojtowicz, project manager. Repairs will be done on Shore Drive at Vista Circle eastbound and at Page Avenue westbound.
From Bayfront Advisory Committee email:
“. . .said Christopher J. Wojtowicz, project manager for the bridge replacement. The outside, right lane, will be closed while repairs are made to a shock-absorber-like “impact attenuator” that had been hit and to fix the concrete collar around one of the drainage inlets in that lane closest to the sidewalk. Plans call for the work to be completed and the lane reopened no later than 3 p.m.”
Screen shot of construction cam at 100pm January 30th 2017.
At about 6 pm. Please drive safely!
All traffic shares the new span until …
THE eastbound switch that is. 
Email December 21st 2016:
Friends, Residents, Elves and Everything in Between (not that I want to know what THAT is!)
Despite being knee-deep in Christmas shopping and wrapping, not to mention going through egg nog like it’s water, Kingfish Chris, the bridgemaster, has passed along an update about the always interesting Lesner Bridge. And although it’s a bit uncomfortable trying to sit down and type this in an elf costume, I’m doing so because feel sure you would like to have this info before we get too deep into the holiday spirit.
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.
Our last bit of advice: If someone approaches you claiming to be one of Santa’s elves, ask to see some ID. It could be one of those punks over at Keebler trying to pull a fast one!
Thanks to you all for your support, patience and questions. Enjoy the holidays with family and friends, and please 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*********************************************************************************************
To All:
As many of you have seen, a lot of work has been going on at the intersections of Shore Drive/Vista Circle and Shore Drive/East Stratford Street in preparation for the Phase 4 traffic switch of eastbound Shore Drive traffic over to the new bridge. So, before we all head off into the long holiday break, we wanted to provide you this brief project update of what to expect at the Lesner Bridge over the next few weeks.
First of all, the traffic switch is tentatively scheduled for next Thursday December 29th. As always, this schedule is dependent upon the weather, as well as when the paving contractor can be at the site to place the temporary asphalt at the widened bridge approaches.
In addition, pedestrians can now use both the new westbound Lesner Bridge AND the existing sidewalk on the eastbound Lesner Bridge to cross the Lynnhaven River.
On Tuesday, January 3rd (2017), the sidewalk on the existing eastbound Lesner Bridge will be CLOSED in preparation for bridge demolition. This means that pedestrians wishing to cross over the Lynnhaven Inlet will have to use the temporary pedestrian path located on the north side of the new westbound Lesner Bridge between Page Avenue and East Stratford Street. The 4-foot wide temporary path might feel a little cramped between the new handrail and the safety screening. Don’t worry . . . . the finished path will be widened to 10 feet at the completion of the project and the temporary safety screening will be removed to provide much more room for pedestrians and cyclists to comfortably share this pathway.
Cross-Section of Completed Westbound and Eastbound Lesner Bridges
Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!
– 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 construction cam from Dec 21 2016 430p.
Email December 5th 2016:
Folks:
With all of the new lane closures coming up, we wanted to provide another update so everyone will know what is going on out there . . . traffic-wise . . . throughout the week.
Feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.
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.
Thanks again.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353************************************************************
To All:
We know that traffic on Shore Drive in the vicinity of Lesner Bridge has been a challenging at times this week. We all appreciate your patience as we continue with the median work in preparation for moving the eastbound Shore Drive traffic onto the new bridge. Our current traffic move date for this eastbound traffic is December 21, 2016.
LEFT TURN LANE closures and LEFT THRU lane closures on Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge will continue into next week. So, in order to help you plan your daily commute, here is what to expect the traffic condition to look like on Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge beginning TODAY, Monday, December 5th:
Monday, December 5th, 2016: The LEFT THRU lane on eastbound Shore Drive at Vista Circle will be CLOSED between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:00 pm;
Tuesday, December 6th, 2016: The LEFT TURN lane on eastbound Shore Drive at Vista Circle (to get to Page Avenue) will be CLOSED between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM;
Wednesday, December 7th, 2016: The LEFT TURN lane on eastbound Shore Drive at East Stratford Street will be CLOSED between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
In addition, it is possible that depending on where the actual water line is located, the eastbound LEFT THRU lane on Shore Drive at East Stratford Street may also be CLOSED during this same time period.
Thursday, December 8th, 2016: The LEFT THRU lane on eastbound Shore Drive at East Stratford Street will be CLOSED between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Phase 4 Pavement Widening on the West Side of the New Lesner Bridge
Phase 4 Pavement Widening on the East Side of the New Lesner Bridge
Again, thank you for your patience during this difficult phase of changing traffic patterns. If all goes as planned, we’ll all be celebrating more than the New Year on January 1st!
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
Email update November 29,2016:
Bridge Groupies and Fans of the Kingfish:
Just a quick update from the Bridge Guru – Chris W, project manager – that explains yesterday’s lane closure and a few other details. Using that smooth, chatty, engineer style of conversing that he is known for, Cap’n Chris explains what is going on this week at your nearby friendly bridge structure. Just facts, no laughs. Parse and ponder each word . . . . .
Feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.
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. So . . . enjoy this time of the year as you prepare for the holidays . . . . 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**********************************************************************************************
To All:
The first phase of the two-phased traffic switch over to the new westbound Lesner Bridge took place on Friday, November 11th, when we moved the westbound Shore Drive traffic over to the new bridge. The second phase will involve temporarily moving the eastbound Shore Drive traffic also over to the new westbound bridge. Once we move all traffic off of both old bridges we will begin the demolition process in preparation for construction of the new eastbound Lesner Bridge.
In order to move the eastbound Shore Drive traffic to the new bridge, we have to widen the pavement on the new bridge approaches and build the pavement transitions at the Shore Drive/East Stratford Street and Shore Drive/Vista Circle intersections.
This work will require single lane closures on eastbound Shore Drive for the next several weeks. Beginning yesterday (Monday), and continuing through this Friday, December 2nd, a single lane closure will be in place on eastbound Shore Drive between Dupont Circle and Lesner Bridge between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
Once this switch is made traffic will remain in this temporary condition until the new eastbound bridge is built. The following snapshots from the contract plans show what drivers can expect these temporary traffic lanes to look like at these two intersections:
Phase 4 Temporary Traffic Pattern at Shore Drive and East Stratford Street
Phase 4 Temporary Traffic Pattern at Shore Drive and Vista Circle
Additional updates will be sent out as this work progresses and me move closer to the switchover date for the eastbound Shore Drive traffic.
Please be patient and drive safely through this active construction zone!
– 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 930am November 29th 2016
Friday by about 3pm the westbound lanes will switch to the brand new fancy span.
Be safe !
You can imagine how frustrating this is.
UPDATE: Due to a water main break that has created some damage to the new roadway at Page Avenue, this area will still be an active construction zone until the repairs are completed and therefore off-limits to pedestrians. Because of that, “walkover” of the new span of Lesner Bridge – scheduled for this Sunday – is CANCELLED.
From an update just ooooozing with wit and hilarity November 3 2016:
Walkers, Talkers, and Devotees of Bridges (and Public Works):
We have reached that peculiar time of the year when you can watch football, baseball and basketball at the same time; you’re unsure of whether to wear socks with your shoes or not because of the changing weather; and you look for news places to hide the leftover Halloween candy so you can eat it when no one is looking.
Better than all of that is . . . well, I’ll let the words of Chris “Kingfish” Wojtowicz explain: “Folks that travel over the Lynnhaven Inlet are about to experience what it’s like to drive, bike, run or walk across a pre-cast concrete segmental box girder bridge – the new westbound Lesner Bridge.”
I’m sure you have heard this news earlier this week, but somehow hearing it from the Big Cheese of Bridges just adds a certain . . . . je ne sais quois to the message.
As you drive past the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project, you probably notice the fervent efforts of the crews attending to the final details so that Sunday can go as planned. What kind of details, you ask? Wojo explains all in his notes below.
Now, before you plunge yourselves into a sublime reading experience that is a mixture of English and engineering, a couple of points to make about Sunday’s “hoofin’ and footin’” experience.
Several of you have asked: “What if I live on the west side of the bridge – do I have to walk over to the east side and THEN walk back across the bridge headed west?”
No . . . you don’t HAVE to. This is a public bridge and we want Sunday’s time together to be pleasant. We will, however, have a few words from our mayor and/or council representatives before we start off on our trek. Very informal, mind you, but still a chance to gather together. But this event will be going from 2-4 so I’m sure people will be walking back and forth from both sides throughout that 2 hours, so do what moves ya. Just please stay on the sidewalk as you traverse the bridge.
Second, a few e-mails asking if beverages will be allowed. The best way to answer that is to say – as long as they are not alcoholic beverages, there should be no problem. Otherwise, that is a matter between you and our award-winning and highly respected peace officers.
Below is our latest collection of facts, figures and snappy photos – updated for your reading pleasure – that will update you. Don’t skip a word of it and ponder it all.
Feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.
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.
** Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night, signaling the end of DST for 2016. You don’t want to miss this event Sunday afternoon.
Thanks again for all of your interest and patience throughout this project. So . . . enjoy this weather, 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***********************************************************
To All:
It’s taken us a little over two years to get to this point, but folks that travel over the Lynnhaven Inlet are about to experience what it’s like to drive, bike, run or walk across a pre-cast concrete segmental box girder bridge – the new Westbound Lesner Bridge.
At this point we are anticipating the switching of the existing westbound Shore Drive traffic from the old westbound bridge over to the new westbound bridge sometime between 4 and 6 PM THIS Sunday, November 6. Now, before that switch can take place A LOT of finish work has to take place both on and off the bridge. Between now and Sunday afternoon . . . . the following work will take place:
1) Paving of the approaches both at Page Avenue and at East Stratford Street. This work will occur during the evening of November 3 . . . Thursday . . . as in TONIGHT . . . and there will likely be lane closures during portions of this paving operation at both of these intersections at Shore Drive. Please slow down when you approach the bridge during this evening due to this paving work;
2) Grinding and grooving of the bridge deck. This work is ongoing and is expected to be completed tomorrow, Friday the 4th.
3) The temporary barrier service and chain link fence screening needs to be completed along the north side of the new bridge between East Stratford Street and Page Avenue. Since we will eventually move all four lanes of traffic temporarily to the new bridge while the new Eastbound Bridge is built, we are not going to build the 10-wide multi-use path along the north side of the westbound bridge at this time. We are going to use this space to fit these four lanes of traffic and carve out a 3-4 foot wide temporary pedestrian walkway that we separate from traffic using temporary barrier service and the chain link fence screening. This work is ongoing and should be completed by the time we are ready to switch the westbound Shore Drive traffic to the new bridge.
4) Trench drain needs to be installed along the north side of each bridge approach. This work will resume tomorrow, Friday the 4th, after the paving is completed. This drainage system is temporary and will collect stormwater runoff from the bridge approaches when all four lanes of traffic are switched to the new westbound bridge.
5) The new street lights on the bridge have to be powered up. Nine of the twelve street lights on the new bridge have been installed and the electricians are pulling wire to power these lights in time for the bridge opening on Sunday. The remaining three lights will be installed during the next phase of the project and after the gantry crane is moved into position to build the eastbound bridge.
6) Completion of the expansion joints in the parapet walls, barrier walls, and hand railing located at Abutment A on the west side of Lynnhaven Inlet and at Abutment B, located on the east side of Lynnhaven Inlet.
7) Temporary pavement marking of the bridge and traffic transition areas. This work will begin early Sunday morning (11/6) and could continue into early afternoon. Police officers will be located at the intersections of Shore Drive/Pave Avenue and at Shore Drive/East Stratford Street to help with the traffic control while crews work to eradicate the old markings and place the new ones.
8) Adjustment of traffic signal heads and detection cameras. This work will also begin early on Sunday morning and will continue into early afternoon. This work will align the traffic signals and traffic detection cameras to the new lane configurations at the intersections of Shore Drive/Pave Avenue and at Shore Drive/East Stratford Street.
Walkover Info Starts Here
As I already mentioned, with all this work taking place so that we can make this traffic switch – we have planned a “walkover” over the new bridge that will take place on Sunday (the 6th) between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Some details have already been sent out, but I wanted to provide some additional information here.
Walkover from the east side
Folks that want to participate in this “walkover” are asked to meet on the east side of Page Avenue in the grassy area between Page Avenue and Shore Drive.
We will walk from this area, cross Page Avenue and walk within the designated area (there will be caution tape) of the new bridge approach.
Folks will continue to walk/bike across the new bridge until they reach East Stratford Street on the other side.
Walkover from the west side
To cross Shore Drive at East Stratford Street please use the new crosswalk installed on the WEST side of this intersection.
This new crosswalk extends from J&A Racing on the south side of Shore Drive to Chesapeake House on the north side.
Some of the residents who live on the west side of the bridge have asked if they can cross from that side. Yes you may . . . but please stay on the sidewalk over the bridge.
Please note that since we are only moving the westbound lanes of traffic at this time only the NORTH half of the bridge will be open to the public. The southern half of the new bridge is still an active construction zone and will be OFF LIMITS to the general public. The active construction area will be demarcated by concrete barrier service, orange construction barrels and yellow CAUTION tape.
The temporary pedestrian path will be open for all those that wish to use it when walking across the bridge (FYI – there will be some great camera shots of Chesapeake Bay and the Bay Bridge from this walkway for all those photographers out there!). The bridge deck located between the orange construction barrels and the temporary barrier service of the pedestrian walkway will also be open for those that wish to walk or bike across the new bridge (NOTE TO CYCLISTS: use caution when traversing the expansion joint in the roadway section of the bridge. The expansion joint in the pedestrian path section will have a cover plate).
** Since there will be pavement marking work taking place Sunday morning on the bridge, there is a possibility that only the pedestrian path will be available for the “walkover.” Public access to the bridge deck will be determined at the time this “walkover” is set to begin.
Expansion Joint Located in the roadway section of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Expansion Joint Located at the pedestrian path of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
As you can see, workers will be VERY busy over the next four days preparing the bridge and approaches for this first phase traffic shift. Last week many of you noticed that we have moved the gantry off the bridge and onto the temporary steel falsework built on the north side of the bridge and on the west side of Lynnhaven Inlet. The gantry will be stored at this location for approximately the next six months or until we are ready to move the gantry into position for construction of the eastbound bridge.
Temporary Steel Falsework and Gantry Storage area located on the north side of the new westbound Lesner Bridge and west of Lynnhaven Inlet
Pre-casting of the concrete segments for the eastbound bridge is progressing on schedule. AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth has cast a total of 57 of the 168 bridge segments for the new eastbound bridge.
Over the next four weeks, the bridge contractor will:
· Drive soldier piles along the south side of the westbound bridge approaches along the wire wall and fill this are to widen the approaches in preparation for moving the eastbound traffic to the new bridge ;
· Continue work on the seawall adjacent to the new development located on the former Duck Inn property;
· Complete the 16-inch waterline inside the new bridge;
· Continue painting bridge superstructure and substructure starting at Span 1;
· Install street light pilasters at Abutment A and at Abutment B;
· Continue work on the bridge conduit system;
· Work in median areas on both sides of the bridge in preparation for transitioning the eastbound Shore Drive traffic to the new westbound bridge
Drive Safely and see you Sunday!
– 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 eastbound view taken 6pm November 3rd 2016
Editors note: We added the fancy bold & bigger text to highlight words.
That’s right folks!
It’s official.
Meet here:
October 3rd 2016:
Waterlogged Residents and Fans of All Things Structural:
Now that the beastly hot days of summer have passed – I miss them already – we can look forward to crisp autumn days, football, and the pain and suffering that comes with raking fallen leaves that never ends . . . .
As you drive past the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project, you probably marvel at the changes and progress that has been made with this grand structure. You may ask yourself: “Can we expect more?”
You’re daggone right, you can . . . and thanks for asking.
According to the sage of bridges . . . the Kingfish of Structures – project manager Chris Wojtowicz – not only have they made quite a bit of progress, but “the moving of the westbound Shore Drive traffic to the new westbound bridge will take place sometime during the week of October 24th.”
But I shouldn’t spoil everything . . . . Better you hear it from someone who actually knows what he’s talking about – the Kingfish himself.
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. Don’t skip a word of it and ponder it all.
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkeFJWm85s
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. So . . . enjoy this weather, 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**************************************
To All:
On September 1st, the post-tensioning and grouting of the tendons for Span 10 of the new westbound bridge was completed, thus completing the last remaining span of the bridge. Since completing this span, crews have been busy both inside and outside the bridge completing other elements of the bridge’s superstructure in preparation for moving the westbound traffic off of Shore Drive from the old bridge to the new bridge.
Since the completion of the last bridge span, utility crews have been working inside the superstructure to complete construction of the new 16-inch water main, the bridge lighting conduit system, and all of the conduit systems required for the private utility companies to relocate their existing utilities from the old bridges to the new bridge.
Completed Bridge Conduit and Other Utilities Inside the New Westbound Lesner Bridge
Up on top of the bridge, crews are slowly back launching the gantry to the west and back to Span 1 where the temporary falsework has been constructed for the long term storage of this equipment. The gantry is currently located on Span 3 and will likely be launched to Span 2 by Wednesday October 5th. It is likely that crews will temporarily lock down the gantry in this location until Hurricane Matthew safely passes the Hampton Roads area. The back launch of the gantry will resume on or after October 11th.
Other critical work required to ready the bridge for the upcoming traffic switch is taking place concurrently with the gantry move and utility work. The expansion joints at each end of the bridge are being readied for installation. The first expansion joint will be installed at Abutment A – located on the west side of the bridge. Installation work for both expansion joints will be completed by the week of October 17th.
Area between abutment and bridge deck being prepared for expansion joint installation
Workers are also preparing the temporary pedestrian path along the north side of the new bridge. Concrete parapet wall and the new decorative handrail are currently being installed along the northern edge of the bridge and approaches between East Stratford Street and Page Avenue. Temporary barrier service and safety screening (galvanized chain link fence) is also being installed across the new bridge and all the way down each bridge approach to the intersections.
The area between (~4 feet) the parapet/handrailing and this temporary barrier service/safety screen will serve as the temporary pedestrian access and will be the only pedestrian access across the Lynnhaven Inlet once both old bridges are demolished during the next phase (4).
Coating of the Bridge Superstructure
Construction access ports and miscellaneous deck penetrations are being permanently sealed ahead of the scheduled pavement planing and grooving. Planing and grooving of the new bridge deck is currently scheduled for the week of October 10th and is expected to be completed by October 16th.
Since the last project update (8/18/2016), the following work has been completed:
Bridge conduit systems have been completed though the new westbound bridge;
The new 16-inch water main has been completed up to Span 10;
Back-launched the gantry from span 10 to Span 3;
Finished handrail installation along the bridge up to Span 3;
Installed temporary barrier service (for pedestrian access) along the north side of the new bridge between East Stratford Street and Span 7 of the bridge;
Installation of pullboxes and controller cabinet foundation for the new traffic signal at the Shore Drive/Page Avenue intersection;
Installation of the new traffic signal pole foundation on the west side of Page Avenue;
Installation of street light pilasters up to bridge Span 7AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build pre-cast concrete segments for the superstructure of the new Eastbound Lesner Bridge. A total of 44 of the 168 bridge segments have been cast for the new eastbound bridge.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
Complete the falsework located on the northwest side of the bridge;
Side-launch the gantry off of the new westbound bridge and onto the falsework for long term storage (~ 6 months);
Complete installation of both bridge expansion joints;
Grind and groove bridge deck between Spans 1 and 10;
Coat/paint the bridge barrier walls and parapets;
Install parapets and barrier wall along bridge Spans 4 through 10;
Complete handrail installation along the bridge;
Complete installation of 16-inch watermain inside the bridge;
Complete utility installation and rough grading for the upcoming lane shifts near the intersections of Shore Drive/East Stratford Street and Shore Drive/Page Avenue.At this time . . . . we expect that the moving of the westbound Shore Drive traffic to the new westbound bridge will take place sometime during the week of October 24th.
Within the next week we will place variable message boards along Shore Drive, both eastbound and westbound, to alert drivers of this upcoming traffic shift. ONLY THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE MOVED AT THIS TIME. The eastbound traffic will continue to use the old bridge just as they do today.
After we have graded, paved and marked the transitions in the old median and westbound lanes, we will then move the eastbound traffic to the new bridge. This second traffic shift of the eastbound Shore Drive traffic will likely take place in early December.
Stay tuned!
– 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 7am October 3rd 2016
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 Beachdlankfor@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
No doubt you’ve seen dangerous driving on the Lesner Bridge too.
There will now be a Police presence there.
View article at Pilotonline.com:
Tractor trailers carrying over-sized loads to the site have repeatedly encountered drivers who cut in front of the trucks and then come to a sudden stop, police said in a statement released Friday. Because of the extreme weight of the trucks – about 280,000 pounds – they need a distance that is longer than a football field to be able to come to a stop.
Screen shot of construction camera today. Note Police on Lesner Bridge.
June 14th 2016 update:
Aficionados of Bridges, Roads and Beaches:
No chit chat about ice on the roads and salt and sand and that nasty wind whipping off the bay today . . . No sir-eeee . . . you can toss that talk! Now it’s nothing but thoughts of heat and sand and sun and heat and swimming pools and heat and cocoa butter and more heat!! Just soak it up and savor the summer days living in Virginia Beach.
Progress on the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project is moving onward, and I’m sure most of you can see the progress almost on a daily basis.
Below is the latest collection of facts and figures and snappy photos – updated for your reading pleasure – from Chris Wojtowicz, engineer, project manager and smarty pants about all things related to bridges. You’ll want to be sure and add this update to your paperbacks and magazines for great reading while on the beach or sailing on the bay.
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 the summer weather, fire up the grill, and avoid those skeeters . . . AND STAY COOL AND SAFE!
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353************************************************************************************
To All:
Yes – that small gap in the center of the new westbound Lesner Bridge is exactly as designed.
On Monday, June 13th, 2016, the last pre-cast concrete segment in the center span of the new westbound Lesner Bridge was set and post-tensioned in place. The remaining 2-foot wide gap is known as the Main Span Closure Segment and will be formed and cast-in-place early next week during the night when the surrounding concrete is at a minimum thermal gradient. The placement of the Main Span Closure concrete will complete the most challenging portion of the bridge construction – building both cantilever sections of the 225’ wide main bridge span; one from the west and one from the east and having them both meet in the middle where they’re supposed to be. Hats off to the FIGG Bridge designers and the precise work of McLean Contracting Company!
While crews work on finishing the main bridge span (setting formwork, placing rebar, installing continuity tendons across the main span, and tendon grouting), the gantry crane will be moved off of the cantilever and to span 7 (of 10). Once the gantry is moved to Span 7, the contractor will begin work on setting the segments atop Pier column #7 while post-tensioning work is being finished in the main span (#5).
Span 5 of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge – where the east and west cantilever sections of the bridge meet.
Now, a brief summary of work that we have completed since the last project update (3/29/2016):
Ø Cantilever Span 5B of the new westbound Lesner Bridge has been completed;
Ø The falsework at pier #6 has been installed at Pier #7 in preparation for the next gantry launch;
Ø The construction of pier columns #9 has been completed;
Ø We completed segment casting for spans 8, 9 and most of 10 (four segments remaining);
Ø Streetlight pilasters have been completed at pier columns 1 and 2;
Ø Preliminary pavement planning was completed on Spans 1, 2, and 3;
Ø Base and intermediate asphalt has been placed at the new bridge approaches.
Construction of the new westbound Lesner Bridge substructure (foundations, footings, and piers) is now complete. Completion of the bridge’s superstructure is estimated for September 2016 with a partial (westbound traffic) traffic switch to the new bridge late September 2016 or early October 2016.
AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the superstructure of the new Lesner Bridge. A total of 164 of the 168 bridge segments have been cast for the new westbound bridge.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
Ø Launch the gantry to span #7 and set the pier segments on pier column #7;
Ø Deliver (via barge) the Pier #7 bridge segments and install on Pier column #7
Ø Cast-in-place the Main Spain Closure segment in Span #5;
Ø Install and post-tension the main span continuity tendons;
Ø Install temporary trench drains along the north side of each bridge approach.
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 eastbound view taken at 437pm June 14th ’16
Happening now 1115am
The following notice was graciously sent to SDCC by Mr. Phill Roehrs, P.E. Water Resources Engineer with the City of VB Public Works Engineering. Thank you Phill for keeping us up to date.
Dear Shore Drive Residents:
We wanted to let you know about an upcoming truck haul of sand from the City’s stockpile south of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and Beach Facility to a section of Cape Henry Beach.
As you know, the sand stockpile area has been the repository for sand dredged from the Crab Creek channel in recent years. Portions of Cape Henry Beach have experienced erosion over the previous winter, and would benefit from the placement of the sand dredged from Crab Creek.
There is also a need to remove sand from the stockpile area to create capacity for future dredging of Crab Creek and to help alleviate space issues at the staging area for the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project.
As such, the City has begun coordinating a truck haul of up to 30,000 cubic yards of material from the sand stockpile to a portion of Cape Henry Beach for purposes of beach replenishment.
Some of the details are:
Ø Trucks will begin hauling sand as early as May 9, 2016, in an attempt to finish the beach work prior to Memorial Day.
Ø The replenishment area will be the area to the west of the Lynnhaven Fishing Pier.
Ø The Jade Street beach access will serve as the vehicular access point for trucks hauling sand to the beach.
Ø This truck haul will result in increased storm protection for portions of Cape Henry Beach just prior to the upcoming hurricane season, and will serve to nourish the beach westward to the Lesner Bridge by natural drift.
If you have any questions or would like further details about this project, please contact Thomas Gay via email at tgay@vbgov.com, or by phone at 385-4838.
Thank you for your time and please share this information.
Now, it’s finally getting off the ground. And Viau’s back.
This time, instead of knocking back a cold one, he’s shoring up concrete for an apartment complex.
“Happy hour on a Friday – this was the place to go,” said Viau, project manager for Clancy & Theys, the general contractor.
Photo Credit: Stephen M. Katz | The Virginian-Pilot
Photo Credit: Clancy Theys
Here’s recent detailed info about the project at VBGov.com:
May 13, 2015 Public Hearing
APPLICANT: GREYSTAR GP II, LLC
PROPERTY OWNER: THE TERRY COMPANIES FIVE, LLC
Screenshot of Lesner Bridge Construction Camera just before amazing sunset Friday night. Click to go to Construction Cam.
March 23th 2016 update:
To Fans and Keen Observers of the Lesner Bridge Project:
“Spring has sprung, the grass has risen, the project continues, and I like bacon”
My literary and poetic skills aside . . . the slow departure of winter and emergence of warmer, spring weather has inspired our Bridge Guru, the honorable Chris Wojtowicz – to come forth with a Lesner Bridge Project Update – just as the groundhog predicted.
Work is proceeding fast and furiously, with crews taking advantage of the warmer temps to get as much done as possible. Just so you’ll have a more in-depth analysis, Chris explains all the latest details below.
As always, please 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkeFJWm85s&feature=youtu.be
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. Summer is just around the corner, so hang in there.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353***********************************
To All:
“In like a Lion, out like a Lamb”, this March is certainly living up to that saying.
The Lesner Bridge project team loves the “Lamb” and the warmer weather that is beginning to work its way into Virginia Beach. It’s a welcome change to the cold, wet and windy February that we experienced.
Many of you have noticed something different about the bridge construction recently – only half of a bridge span was constructed before the gantry crane was moved and is now resting on what appears to an unsupported (floating) extension of the bridge superstructure. You can see this this step in the construction sequence animation at about 2:08 minutes in. Although this looks odd, we can assure you that the bridge has been designed specifically for this point in construction.
We are now working on Span 5 (of 10) on the new westbound Lesner Bridge. This particular span is 225 feet long and is the main center span of the bridge. All other spans of the bridge are 150 feet wide and can be built entirely beneath the gantry (span by span construction). Since the main span is greater than 150 feet, the gantry crane cannot use the span by span construction method and instead must use the cantilever method. The additional strength needed to support this cantilevered section of bridge is provided by additional internal tendons located inside the top deck of bridge spans 4, 5, and 6 as well as temporary external tendons located inside the box girders of spans 4, 5, and 6. The top deck tendons (cantilever tendons) are snaked through the main span segments, through the adjacent pier segments, and anchored into subsequent typical segments in span 4 (or span 6 if on the east side of the channel).
Internal Tendons (inside blue stressing jack) inside top deck of Span 5 of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Internal Tendon Anchorages (top corner areas) inside Span4 of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Temporary External Tendons (black pipe) inside Span 5 of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Span 5 will be built in two sections; 5A (west of channel and built from west to east) and 5B (east of channel and built from east to west). The construction of span 5A has been completed and the gantry is currently being readied for a launch over to the steel falsework located at pier #5 (east side of the channel).
The construction of span 5B gets a little tricky since we have to balance the construction loads at pier #5 in order to prevent damage and/or failure of this new pier column. To accomplish this, we are going to build span #6 (150 feet wide and located between piers #5 and #6) prior to completing span 5B. Once span #6 is anchored (via tendons) to the two piers, this span will serve as a counterweight to balance the load that span 5B will place on the column at pier #5. Therefore, over the next 5 weeks you will see the following work taking place on the bridge superstructure:
1) Both pier segments placed on top of pier column #5;
2) The steel falsework moved from pier #5 to pier #6;
3) The gantry launched from pier #5 to pier #6;
4) Both pier segments placed on top of pier column #6;
5) Typical segments for span #6 delivered by barge;
6) Gantry will lift typical segments from the barge and set them into place for span #6;
7) Gantry will backlaunch (from east to west) to span #5;
8) Span #5 bridge segments will be delivered by truck to the gantry and will be assembled in span 5B from east to west;
9) The main span closure (bridge center) will be cast in place and continuity tendons installed to join spans 5A and 5B.
10) Gantry will be launched to span #7
Yes, it’s complicated. With all these additional steps the work may seem like it’s slowing down but we can assure you that progress is being made on these critical path tasks.
Now, a brief summary of work that we have completed since the last project update (2/10/2016):
Ø Span 4 and 5A (of 10) of the new westbound Lesner Bridge has been completed;
Ø The falsework at pier #5 has been installed in preparation for the next gantry launch;
Ø The footing for pier 8 has been completed, thus completing all of the bridge footings for the westbound bridge;
Ø The construction of pier columns #7 and #8 have been completed;
Ø The steel reinforcing for pier column #9 has been tied and is being readied for concrete placement. This is the last pier column for the westbound bridge;
Ø We completed segment casting for spans 7 and most of 8;
Ø Both storm drain structures have been installed on the east side of East Stratford Street north of Shore Drive;
Ø The parapet wall and handrail anchor bolts have been installed on the MSE wall in front of 3556 On the Bay Condominiums and across spans 1,2, and 3;
Ø The permanent barrier wall along the south side of the new westbound Lesner Bridge has been installed up to span 3; and
Ø Approximately 300 feet of conduit and water main has been installed inside the new bridge.
Water main, Power and Communications Conduit inside the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Completed Bridge Spans 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5A Cantilever of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
With the exception of pier column #9, the construction of all of the new westbound bridge substructure has been completed including all of the drilled shaft foundations and pier footings. As we have mentioned earlier, erection of the bridges superstructure continues with an expected bridge completion date in September 2016.
AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the superstructure of the new Lesner Bridge. A total of 134 of the 168 bridge segments have been cast for the new westbound bridge.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
Ø Launch the gantry to span #6 and set the pier segments on pier columns #5 and #6;
Ø Form and place the concrete in the column for Pier #9 (this is the last remaining column to be constructed for the westbound bridge);
Ø Install various utilities inside the completed sections of the westbound bridge
Ø Install the new storm drain pipe along the east side of East Stratford Street on the north side of Shore Drive.
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
Screenshot of construction cam taken 142pm today
Screenshot of construction cam taken 142pm today
#WeLoveShoreDrive 
