2006 ACEC Platinum Award in Studies, Research & Consulting Services
FOR FEASIBILITY REPORT APPROACH & INTERCHANGE
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE BRONX-WHITESTONE BRIDGE
The design team received the 2006 ACEC Platinum award for the feasibility study to rehabilitate and to upgrade the elevated and on-grade approaches to the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. The approaches are showing signs of deterioration and are operating at their traffic service level capacity, especially during the peak commuting hours. Our investigations included alternatives to replace the structural deck and deficient supporting members, widening the structure, and increasing the live load capacity to HS-25 truck loading. The Feasibility Study examined complex issues the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will encounter during the 10 years of rehabilitation, including future structural demands.
HIGHLIGHTS
MAGNITUDE/COMPLEXITY: Traffic study included 28 counties in the New York metropolitan area, and 3,500 transportation analysis zones, and the region’s highway and transit networks. In staging the project construction, a required sequencing to allow the Bridge to remain open was devised.
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS: Identified environmental constraints, and compared each alternative’s affect to environmental resources located around the project area. Studies included potential long-term solutions for the Queens Interchange and the potential Future Upper Level since the improvements could result in regional traffic pattern shifts
COMMUNICATIONS: Open lines enabling all concerns to be proactively addressed; issues ranging from constructability reviews for the short term replacement of the approach structures, to assessing potential changes in traffic patterns that would be associated with the longer term vision of the regional network.
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