Memorial Bridge South Span Coming in January

The new Memorial Bridge South Span is right on scheduled to be floated upriver in January 2013 and attached to the Scott Avenue approach, according to Archer Western Contractors officials.

Carol Morris, an Archer Western Contractors spokesperson, released an e-mail update about the new Memorial Bridge project on Monday afternoon. She wrote that Archer Western Contractors crews have placed the concrete bridge deck for the Scott Avenue approach and that concrete for the sidewalks is expected to be placed before Thanksgiving.

"The concrete will be cured over for seven days. The approach will serve as the entryway to the new south fixed span due to be put in place in January. The remainder of the work on the Scott Avenue approach will be completed in 2013," Morris wrote. 

Across the Piscataqua River in Kittery, Maine, Morris wrote the four new concrete piers have been completed and the precast beams have been installed for four out of five spans of the new Kittery approach.

"Construction of the new abutment for the approach is under way. Once that is completed, the last span of precast beams can be installed, making way for the placement of the concrete deck. Using proper winter procedures such as heaters and insulated blankets to cure the concrete, the concrete will be placed sometime in December," Morris wrote.

She noted that Hub Foundation Company is now installing the micropiles on Pier 3, having completed Pier 1, 2 and 4. She wrote that 18 micropiles will be drilled through the pier into bedrock. She indicated that Archer Western Contractors crews will continue working double shifts until micropile installation on Pier 3 is completed by the end of this year. 

Meanwhile, Morris wrote that the structural steel for the Memorial Bridge that began arriving at the staging area in October is now being fabricated by crews to create the superstructure for South Span.

"According to the Archer Western schedule, this section of the bridge will be floated upriver by barge in January," Morris wrote.

Archer Western Contractors officials have said their goal is to complete the new $81.9 million Memorial Bridge by July 6, 2013.