John E. Kosar Memorial Bridge Dedication at the Butler Country Club Golf Course

NO. 2 BRIDGE: Record-Setting River Crossing

The Mountain State now has the longest steel plate girder span in the U.S.

Ryan Curtiss, Digital Editor

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Located in Charleston, W.V., the Kanawha River Bridge now has the longest steel plate girder span in the United States, clocking in at 562 feet, and for these reasons, it is No. 2 on Roads & Bridges Top 10 list of 2024 bridge projects.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $769.9-million contract to a joint venture of Trumbull Corp. and Brayman Construction Corp. to build a new lock chamber at the Montgomery Locks and Dam on the Ohio River in Monaca, PA.

Brayman Construction Corporation, in collaboration with Advantage Steel & Construction, LLC, Brayman Precast, and Tunstall Engineering Group, constructed a memorial bridge honoring the late John Kosar of Butler County. The John E. Kosar Memorial Bridge was artfully designed to connect holes 10 and 11 of the Butler Country Club golf course. A bridge is a fitting tribute as John was known for building connections on the golf course and in the business community. Mr. Kosar served on the Board of Directors at Brayman Construction, where he gave generously of his time and knowledge to Brayman CEO and long-time friend, Steve Muck. Steve's commitment to this lasting tribute is a reflection of the profound impact that John had on both his personal and professional life.

The new memorial bridge replaced an existing pedestrian and golf cart bridge over a small lake on the course and was designed around the existing bridge members. The project was completed in several phases. Tunstall Engineering Group did the design on an accelerated basis, and crews worked off hours and at night to construct the project in just three short weeks for the bridge to be ready for a memorial service and ribbon-cutting event. The alternative schedule allowed the crews to work with minimal disruption to play on the course and without damage to the surrounding fairways and greens.

The project site had very limited laydown and work area available, so the demolition, steel erection, and precast installation were all marine-based and completed from the lake surrounding the new bridge. Albeit marine-based, minimal barge support from the lake was possible because Brayman Precast constructed the abutments and pier as “tubs” that were transported to the project, then installed and filled with concrete on-site. Advantage Steel fabricated weathering cambered structural steel, including zone painting, and then erected the material on-site. Precast also fabricated a concrete outlook slab at the center of the bridge to allow for pedestrians to pass golf carts, which can also be used for photo opportunities for events at the club. The wood timber deck and cart curb were installed along with a lighted, stainless steel cable railing. The abutments were backfilled, new gabion baskets were installed along the banks of the lake near the structure, and the approach cart paths to the bridge were paved.

Architecturally, the bridge seamlessly blends with the natural beauty of the golf course. A plaque honoring Mr. Kosar will also be hung in the clubhouse, ensuring that his legacy is not only remembered but celebrated by generations of golf enthusiasts. This bridge, however, is not merely a testament to architectural expertise; it is a heartfelt tribute to a cherished friend, a wise business mentor, and a long-time member of the Butler Country Club.

Brayman salutes the hardworking women who are an integral part of our industry. From the job site to the office, their skills and contributions make a significant impact every day. Thank you to all the incredible women on #TeamBrayman for your dedication and expertise.

Learn more about the incredible women at Brayman in the below special edition ADSC feature article:

The Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and growth for the southwest Pennsylvania region’s robotics cluster, yesterday announced changes to its board of directors and executive officers. Jorgen Pedersen has stepped in as the new board president, and Stephen Muck is now secretary.

A Brayman and Trumbull joint venture project just celebrated the start of our Bayfront Parkway Improvement Project in Erie, PA.

“Construction will be completed in six phases over approximately four years. It will start at the Sassafras Street Extension intersection before the end of September and is expected to conclude with the construction of the pedestrian bridge at Holland Street.”

“With the pandemic’s worst, most economy-crushing days in the rear-view mirror and the Build Back Better taps being turned on, it’s a good time to be part of Pennsylvania’s construction industry. From highway projects to skyscrapers, campus expansions to home renovations, there is no mistaking the power and presence of this rejuvenated sector.

The aggregation of accomplishment that follows highlights the influential contractors, architects, engineers, labor leaders, government officials and other experts who are responsible for Pennsylvania’s ever-evolving built environment.

The City & State 2023 Construction Power 100 was researched and written by City & State staff and freelance writer Hilary Danailova.”

“Gov. Jim Justice announced the $10 million funding for a new bridge in October 2020 and the project was put on the “fast track” by the state Department of Transportation (WVDOT), which oversees the project.

But construction has been delayed numerous times as the company building the bridge, Brayman Construction, has had to work with WVDOT and Norfolk Southern railway to make sure the tracks below the bridge were clear when the bridge’s piers were being installed.

Pier work was finally completed a few months ago and the steel structure was then put into place, which for the most part freed Brayman to work on the bridge without interference with the railroad tracks below it.

The work is mostly on the deck of the bridge now, so no more delays are expected.”

Currently in Phase IV

‍“Phase IV, is a $55.7 million, three-mile project which includes widening Route 58 from Rhea Valley Road to the west corporate limits of Damascus. It is being paid for with federal highway funds. Work began in fall 2021 and includes construction of two matching bridges spanning the south fork of the Holston River and both are currently underway.

The contractor is Kanawha Stone Company of Nitro, W.Va., while the bridges are being built by subcontractor Brayman Construction based in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, but which also operates a Wytheville office.

“We’ve built these bridges which are 474 feet long, 33 feet wide — two identical bridges that are steel span. The first deck pour [concrete] will be around April 1,” VDOT area construction engineer Brian Plummer said Thursday. “We’re roughly 95 feet off the water.”

The bridges are being built beside the current roadway. Once the first is completed, the plan is to shift traffic onto the bridge so workers can then modify the present intersections along the existing road.”Read the Full ArticleSource: Bristol Herald Courier

Congratulations Turner Construction on the The Assembly Pittsburgh project that earned The Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania Award for new construction over $25M. The Assembly was an old Ford Model-T manufacturing plant renovated to be the future home to University of Pittsburgh principal researchers focused on advancing knowledge and discoveries related to cancer biology and other areas. We appreciated the opportunity to be included on this project to assist with the deep foundation work.

Steel started “flying” Monday at the Grant Street Bridge in Bluefield as beams were hoisted into the air to be placed on the piers of the bridge.

Preparations were being made during the last few weeks to start placing the steel structure.

Kerry Stauffer, Bluefield City Engineer, said last week it was time for the steel portion of the bridge after the concrete support piers were in place.

Stauffer said the contractor, Brayman Construction, needed the large crane to place the steel, and also needed to work with Norfolk Southern Railroad to make sure some of the tracks underneath the bridge were clear for the work.

If all goes well, the bridge will be finished by August or September this year, he added.

The McKees Rocks Bridge will close for three hours Wednesday starting at noon.

Traffic will be detoured to the West End Bridge between noon and 3 p.m.

Work crews from Brayman Construction and Advantage Steel & Construction will close the bridge in both directions as they perform pavement marking.