Friends, Neighbors and Those Who Want to Know Everything About the Lesner Bridge Project:
As you sit outside on a gorgeous Friday and feel the bay breeze blow through your hair – or what’s left of it in some cases – treat yourself to the latest information about the Public Works project – the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project. Things are humming right along, and we are receiving a number of questions and requests for information on a regular basis – which is GREAT. We appreciate your interest and your comments about this important undertaking.
The latest collection of facts and figures and other details are below – updated for your reading pleasure or should someone suddenly begin to quiz you – as explained by Chris Wojtowicz, our project manager and the pride and joy of “Wojo’s World.” Please give this a look when you have the time, and 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 patience throughout this project.
Enjoy your weekend, and all the happenings our city offers . . . AND STAY 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
Ok, let’s answer the first question that many of you have had or are thinking: “What is all that steel framework construction taking place in the dredge material storage area south of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramps?”
The answer is: The bridge contractor is preparing the storage area to receive the pre-cast bridge segments now being stored at Atlantic Metrocast in Portsmouth. This temporary steel framework will support an overhead crane that will be used to unload/load the bridge segments from the delivery trucks and move these segments within the storage area.
The bridge contractor has also been preparing the temporary steel falsework between Pier #1 and Abutment A (this is near 3556 On The Bay condominiums) to receive the support towers and gantry trusses. The two concrete pads recently poured at Abutment A is the foundation for one of the two towers that will be erected next week. These towers will be used to support the bridge segment assembly gantry.
Casting yard production of the bridge segments is also continuing. The expansion joint segment, which is the first segment that will be placed in the bridge (on Abutment A), was cast on Tuesday (the 7th). Three of the 14 typical segments for bridge span 2 have also been cast since the last project update.
(Expansion Joint segment with ~25% of steel reinforcing installed)
The foundation work on the westbound bridge continues. The last of the ten drilled shafts at Pier #4 will be installed by today (Friday the 10th).
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will;
Ø Mobilize the utility barges and drilling equipment to Pier #5 (east side of the Federal Channel in the Lynnhaven Inlet);
Ø Mobilize cranes to Abutment A to support the assembly of the bridge segment assembly gantry;
Ø Continue work on the temporary overhead crane installation at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site;
Ø Install a cofferdam around the completed foundations at Pier #3;
Ø Install the new traffic signal poles and signal heads at the intersection of Shore Drive/Page Avenue/Vista Circle;
Ø Construct a haul road along the retaining wall adjacent to the Pointe Chesapeake property (former Duck Inn site) to support construction of Abutment B;
*** On a final note . . . The Ocean Park Civic League is having a neighborhood yard sale this Saturday, April 11th,which means that there will be a lot of additional vehicles entering/exiting East Stratford Street at Shore Drive. Since our bridge contractor will also be working this weekend, please use caution on Shore Drive when nearing the East Stratford Street intersection and when turning onto East Stratford Street going towards the boat ramps.
Because of all this activity, there will likely be more pedestrians and vehicles in this area this weekend than usual – so be alert and drive safely!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
#WeLoveShoreDrive 