WVDOH Grant Street Bridge

Brayman was contracted to remove the existing Grant Street Bridge and reconstruct a new bridge in the same location. The bridge carries Grant Street over Norfolk Southern rail yard and connects the Bluefield neighborhood with the city center. The existing bridge, jointly owned by the City of Bluefield and Norfolk Southern Corporation, was closed to traffic in June 2019 due to imminent failure of the superstructure.

The scope of work included removing all structural steel from the existing three-span bridge, partially removing the existing concrete abutments, and completely removing the concrete pier. The Team constructed two soldier pile walls at Abutment 1. Drilled and driven piles were installed at both new abutments, and drilled shafts were installed at the new pier location. New abutments and piers were cast, and new structural steel was set. Brayman placed a new concrete deck with a standard barrier on one side and a combination sidewalk and 2’ barrier on the other. The Team performed minor grade and drainage work at the approaches to the bridge and installed 6’ decorative fencing on each side of the bridge and a handrail.

Challenges included working over 13 active rail lines in a residental environment, requiring close collaboration with the railroad. Brayman worked extensively with Norfolk Southern Railroad to safely fail the existing structure onto the existing protected tracks to allow the safe and efficient operation of trains on various other tracks beneath the main two spans of the truss.

As a result of this partnership, the Team was able to perform the removal ahead of schedule. This approach not only limited disruptions to train movements, it also minimized noise impacts to the surrounding local residential community and increased safety.

Brayman affiliate company Advantage Steel & Construction erected the steel haunched girders on this project.

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