Including a fascinating intro from your Media & Communication specialist Drew:

Friends/Citizens/Learned Scholars/Buccaneers:

As the warm, sultry days of February ease into the frozen, icy days of March, I begin to wonder if any of it makes sense anymore. Nature is blooming and yet it’s crazy cold most days – cold enough that those kids standing by the highway for Liberty Tax Service are putting the torches inside that cheap costume to stay warm. God bless ‘em. It seems the only people I can trust anymore are the people who put together the Farmer’s Almanac. Now THERE is real wisdom in those pages.

Still we must turn our attention to matters of importance . . . like what is the latest on the Lesner Bridge. As you well know, I could never explain it in a way that would enlighten and inform you – or even sound like
English – so for that I turn to my favorite engineer of bridges, roads and sand castles on the beach – Chris the Kingfish.

He has a handle on the work plans and accomplishments that wows those who listen. He knows all and sees all in all matters named Lesner. He keeps a close watch on the work and keeps a steady hand as they progress. And he also plays a mean polka on the accordion if you talk sweet to him.

Perusing today’s update, we find information concerning a “remaining moment slab,” “falsework for the gantry launch,” and “base and intermediate mixes of asphalt.” This is some heavy stuff . . . (someone hurry and bring me my smelling salts!). Of course, I normally hang with people who read “Beetle Baily” with a highlighter – not wanting to miss any of that deep sub-text.

Please pay special attention to his announcement about “single lane closures will be setup on EB Shore Drive between Dinwiddie Road and East Stratford Street. EAST STRATFORD STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT SHORE DRIVE during each of these nights” . . . We really don’t want anyone inconvenienced any more than possible, so read and be prepared. It’s these kinds of thoughtful advance warnings that make Kingfish such a teddy bear.

So, have a seat by the fire, relax and read up on the news a lot of people won’t receive about the Lesner Bridge, and prepare yourself to outshine them when it comes to bridge talk. Please read and ingest . . . let the words flow over you . . . you will feel the knowledge seeping into the ol’ noggin.

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 haven’t already signed up for the City’s FB page or Twitter account, I encourage you to do so; that means you will receive timely updates from all things City-related and show that annoying friend you are far better informed than anyone else in your circle.

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.

And don’t forget . . . stay safe, look out for each other, and put the phone down while you’re driving – don’t make an LOL a DOA. (Editor’s note: Emphasis ours.)

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

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

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Folks:

Since the last update, Pier #5 has been completed and work on the bridge superstructure has resumed. While this bridge work continues, a lot of you have noticed that much of the sidewalk, handicap ramps, curb and gutter has been completed on the west side of the bridge (near East Stratford Street). We are finally at a point in the project that pavement can be placed on this western bridge approach and in the intersection of Shore Drive/East Stratford Street.

This, unfortunately, means lane closures on Eastbound (EB) Shore Drive between Dinwiddie Road and East Stratford Street.

EB Shore Drive Lane Closure at East Stratford Street for March 12 thru March 15th 2018

Here are the details:

Paving work is scheduled (weather permitting) for three nights beginning on Monday, March 12th and ending in the early morning hours of March 15th. Working hours for each evening will be from 7:00PM to 5:00AM. Therefore, beginning the evening of Monday, March 12th at approximately 7:00 PM, single lane closures will be setup on EB Shore Drive between Dinwiddie Road and East Stratford Street. EAST STRATFORD STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT SHORE DRIVE during each of these nights, so plan accordingly.

Only the base and intermediate mixes of asphalt will be placed at this time. The final riding surface will be placed at a later date.

Progress on the bridge’s superstructure is finally beginning to pick up again. All of the segments for Piers #5 and #6 have been installed and the gantry is currently being readied to receive the 14 segments of span 6 (delivered by barge). Other work has also been completed since the last update in February 2018:

· The footing and column for Pier #5 have been completed;

· Both pier segments have been installed on pier column #5 and the gantry launched to EB bridge span #6;

· Both pier segments have been installed on pier column #6;

· The remaining wood timbers and steel piles for the channel fender system have been installed;

· The footing at Pier #8 has been completed and the reinforcing steel and formwork for the column has been installed;

· MSE wall #5 located in front of the Virginia and Maryland Pilots Association has been completed;

· The 10-foot wide concrete multi-use path along MSE wall #2 between East Stratford and the new EB Bridge has been completed;

· Installation of the curb & gutter and median curb on the west side of the bridge between East Stratford Street and the new EB Bridge has been completed;

· Grading for the new 10-foot wide multi-use path between the new EB Bridge and East Stratford Street has been completed; and

· Dominion Energy has installed the new 3-phase switch and conduit for the new bridge power supply.

New 3-Phase Switch for Bridge Power Supply.

Completed Footing and Steel Reinforcing Column at Pier #8 new EB Bridge

Completed Footing and Column at Pier #5 EB Bridge

View looking East from East Stratford Street at the recently completed 10-foot wide
multi-use path that will cross the new EB Bridge.

Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:

· Complete the column at Pier #8;

· Set all of the segments in Span #6;

· Pave the western bridge approach and the intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Street;

· Install falsework for the gantry launch at Pier #7;

· Place the remaining moment slab along MSE Wall #5 located in front of the Virginia and Maryland Pilots Association;

· Begin excavation for the Pier #9 footing (this is the last remaining footing for the EB bridge); and

· Complete the installation of ductbank behind MSE Wall #5.

Segments for Span #6 of the new EB Lesner Bridge Being Delivered to the Project Site

That’s it for now!

Drive Safely!

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction 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