Central Avenue Bridge

In August 2008, officials of the city of South Charleston, West Virginia hired ms consultants to develop a solution to a problem first outlined by ms bridge inspectors a year earlier – the rapid deterioration of the 50‐year old Central Avenue Bridge carrying vehicle and pedestrian traffic over the CSX railroad tracks and First Avenue in South Charleston.

The three‐span structure of steel beams with a concrete deck, reinforced concrete cap and column type piers and stub abutments on approach fill had sidewalks on both sides of the roadway.

The bridge is an important crossing for school buses and fire trucks, linking the neighborhoods on the north and south sides of Interstate 64 and the railroad tracks. As such, it had been routinely inspected by the West Virginia Department of Transportation. After an inspection in June 2007 when inspectors noted chunks of concrete fallen from the bridge, city officials closed it to traffic. City officials then called in ms consultants for a thorough inspection. After temporary repairs developed by ms were made, the bridge was reopened to vehicles with a three‐ton load limit.

For permanent repairs, ms performed a detailed inspection to determine if the bridge’s abutments and concrete piers could be salvaged, and prepared construction plans for replacement of the bridge deck, steel beams and bearings, and the rehabilitation of abutments and piers.

The project also required coordination with utility companies for relocation of utilities on or near the bridge, and coordination with CSX railroad.

At the request of city officials, ms also developed aesthetic treatments for portions of the structure, including decorative lighting and fencing for what is considered the signature bridge for South Charleston.

The completed project is a two‐lane street and bridge that connects 2nd Avenue on the north to the Kanawha Turnpike on the south, crossing over 1st Avenue and CSX railroad tracks before passing under Interstate 64.

The bridge is a 3 span structure over a rail yard, and the project consisted of complete superstructure replacement and substructure repair.

Construction on the project was completed a week early and slightly under budget.

Awards:

• 2010 West Virginia Engineering Excellence Silver Award American Council of Engineering Companies of West Virginia.

Services Include: