Woolpert will design the replacement of the bridge superstructure and the widening of the piers and abutments to allow for the addition of a center turn lane and a sidewalk, while meeting the required vertical clearance over I-70.
Officials said the addition of a sidewalk is intended to improve connectivity for the anticipated relocation of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds to a site just northwest of the bridge.
The vertical clearance over I-70 will be altered to accommodate the increase in oversize vehicles and interstate commercial traffic. The national minimum clearance for interstate bridges is 16 feet, but ODOT prefers a minimum vertical clearance of 16 feet, 6 inches.
“We’ll need to adjust the lowest portion of the bridge by about six inches,” said Mike Avellano, Woolpert project manager, in a statement.
Officials said bridge closures will be kept to a minimum during construction. The timeline for the project was not disclosed.
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