THE CHALLENGE: The original North Main Street Bridge was
a 19 foot clear simple span. Construction had consisted of a monolithically cast reinforced concrete tee-beam and deck
on masonry rubble stone abutments and wingwalls. The Connecticut Department of Transportation
had determined that the bridge was structurally deficient and therefore eligible for
funding through the State Local Bridge Program.
THE SOLUTION: The existing bridge was replaced with an AASHTO HS20 designed twin precast concrete box culvert,
featuring cast-in-place reinforced concrete parapets and masonry stone wingwalls consisting of
recycled granite curbing. The clear road width was increased 2 feet to 24 feet.
Although North Main Street was closed for the construction, the contract documents were prepared in such
a way as to limit the time closed, both prior to setting the boxes, so the road would not be closed without
work in progress, as well as for the duration of the construction as a whole.
Because the site is located next to the oldest house in Town as well as to
the 'Goodspeed-at-Chester' Theater, aesthetics of the completed structure were a primary
concern of the Town.
An aesthetic approach was
developed by including masonry stone wingwalls, anodized aluminum bridge rails and steel-backed
approach timber guide rails in the design, all of which conformed to AASHTO requirements. This was
reported to be the first use of steel-backed timber guide rails on a State Local Bridge Program
project in Connecticut.
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Final Construction was completed in 1991. Construction cost
was approximately $251,000.
Complete bridge engineering design services were provided by Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc.
Project management was directed by an associate of the firm, specializing in bridge design.
Services included everything from initial meetings with officials and adjacent property
owners, to permit procurement, through construction inspection and project closeout.
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