Poughkeepsie, New York-based Modjeski and Masters says it has been selected by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to perform rehabilitation work on two vertical lift bridges over the Erie Canal.
The rehabilitation project will update the original bridges, built between 1911 and 1915, and will involve load rating the trusses; the replacement or strengthening of select truss bottom chord elements; and full replacement of the floor systems. For both bridges, Modjeski and Masters says it will overhaul all mechanical and electrical equipment, including the lifting mechanism components and control systems.
The two bridges combined host nearly 5.8 million passenger trips each year, according to NYSDOT. The first bridge carries New York Route 19 (Main Street) over the Erie Canal in Brockport, New York, and the second one carries New York Route 98 (North Main Street) over the canal in Albion, New York.
“The Erie Canal is one of New York’s greatest developments, so we’re privileged to be selected for this project by the NYSDOT to extend the life of these structures for years to come,” says Quentin Johnson, a vice president with Modjeski and Masters. “Our team has worked on a multitude of bridges across the state of New York and understands both the practical and cultural impact of these structures for the community.”
The contract follows Modjeski and Masters’ previous work with NYSDOT, which has included ongoing design contracts on NYSDOT’s only suspension bridge and the replacement of a railroad swing span over the Hudson River, according to the firm. Modjeski and Masters estimates the latter contract to be worth $6 million.