The coordination and management of the project were overseen by Huron Pines on behalf of the Otsego County Road Commission. The project aimed to replace two restrictive culverts at the Sparr Road crossing of the Black River. The existing culverts posed challenges for the passage of fish and other aquatic species. To address this, a Contech Bridge, consisting of a 24 foot span by 50 foot long aluminum arch with no bottom, was constructed. The bridge comprised curved corrugated aluminum plates and aluminum ribs, assembled and bolted together on the road. Simultaneously, the existing culverts were removed during the assembly process.
Preparing the River to Receive the Bridge
The Project Story
New Bridge Fabricated and Ready to Set in Place
To prepare the river for the new bridge, two lines of sheet piling were driven on each side. Once the bridge was constructed on the road, a 275-ton crane was brought in to lift the entire bridge and set it in the river. Subsequently, head walls were installed at each end of the culvert, fill was placed over the arch to level the road, and the road was paved.
Outcome
Remarkably, the project was completed ahead of schedule, meeting both the owner's and funding agency's goals. The successful execution of this project provided a great solution to the challenges posed by the outdated culverts at the Sparr Road crossing of the Black River.
New Bridge Fabricated and Ready to Set in Place
275 Ton Crane for Setting the Bridge
Completed Project, River Unleashed