The Anna Maria Island Bridge closes to vehicular and pedestrian traffic Monday to undergo the remainder of a $10.1 million project to strengthen and repair the aging structure that spans Sarasota Bay.
Repairs began in February for the 51-year-old structure when it went under a 400-day contract with Quinn Construction Inc.
The work that lies ahead, however, is the most complex of the project that is expected to extend the life-span of the bridge about 10 to 15 years.
The work to be completed by Quinn Construction over the next 45 days that it is closed will consist of replacing the steel deck, reconditioning of structural steel and replacing the drawbridge's mechanical and electrical operating system.
In addition, Quinn Construction will restore the concrete deck and repair concrete approach spans.
Here is a closer look at what's in store for the bridge during the 45-day closure:
Steel decks
There are two bridge steel decks to be replaced on the bridge, which is 3,122 feet long.
Each steel deck is 24 feet by 50 feet, and will be bolted and welded onto the bridge.
"The current condition is deteriorated to the point that it needs to be replaced after an engineer's review," said Audrey Clarke, project spokeswoman.
Structural steel
The steel support of the bridge has also been determined to be deteriorating after assessment by an engineer.
Quinn Construction will remove this steel and bolt on new support steel, including the sidewalk support and steel guardrail.
Greg Wilson, project administrator for the construction management company PB Americas, said this will also include lead and paint removal on the structural steel.
Mechanical/electrical
The bridge mechanical and electrical operating system is what lifts the drawbridge.
Quinn Construction plans to remove and replace major parts of this system. Among parts to be replaced are the span lock motors, electrical wiring and console.
Concrete spans
A hydro-demolition process will be used to repair the concrete spans on the bridge. In this process, the contractor will remove about 2 inches of worn or deteriorated concrete with a high-pressure water system.
New concrete will then be restored to the spans.
In this project, 19 spans on the west side of the bridge will be repaired and seven spans on the east side.
Wilson said the hydro-demolition will concentrate on one lane at a time.
"They will demolish a half at a time so that emergency access can be maintained on the bridge," Wilson said.
Repair existing piles
This process was scheduled for the 45-day closure but has already been completed during the once-a-week nighttime lane closures over the past few weeks.
In this project, 36 piles that were corroded from saltwater were repaired.
Earlier work
Between February and September, repairs to the bridge have included temporary hydraulics, traffic control devices, timber on the fender system, concrete spall repair, sidewalk removal and replacement on the bridge, and restoration of embankments at the bridge approaches.
The bridge is expected to reopen by Nov. 14, and if Quinn Construction does not meet this deadline it will have to pay a fine of $10,000 to $21,500 a day, up to a maximum of $550,000.
"Construction is on schedule," Wilson said. "The contractors have made a commitment to get this thing done on time."
However, Ken Spillet, senior project engineer, says people will still see construction crews out at the site after the bridge reopens.
"There's still work to continue afterward, and you'll still see us out there," Spillett said.
Some of that is to include applying primer to the bridge and painting it.
However, representatives say any further work to be done would include overnight lane closures only, starting at about 8 p.m.
"We will be working diligently to make sure we have the materials necessary," said Eddy Gonzalez, FDOT director of operations. "We want to get out of the way as fast as we can."
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