Broad Avenue bridge moves to the west side

ALBANY — If you’ve ever wanted a close view of a bridge being built, just visit Ray Charles Plaza in Albany and take a seat.

Construction of the new Broad Avenue bridge has moved to the west side of the Flint River, giving local residents a unique opportunity to watch from a pretty good spot as one side of the bridge inches toward the other.

Until now, most of the bridge construction has been on the east side, which was most visible from the Oglethorpe Boulevard bridge. The contractor poured 14 segments on that side of the Flint and has started pouring 14 more on the west side. The two sides of the bridge will meet in the middle. The contractor hopes to pour a segment a week.

Visitors to the Plaza will notice a huge yellow and green contraption on the west end of the bridge. Called a form traveler, it attaches to the edge of the bridge and allows the deck to be built over the river. The traveler locks onto the completed deck area, a new section is poured in front of it and the traveler is moved to that edge to start the process again. This type of construction allows the bridge to span the river – there will not be any bridge columns in the water.

The new bridge is a box girder design unique to southwest Georgia. It has a top deck (the driving surface), a bottom floor and sides. Workers will be able to enter the “box” of bridge for maintenance purposes.

While segment work continues on the west end, construction of a barrier wall is under way on the opposite side. The bridge is a little more than 75 percent complete and construction is ahead of schedule. Dismantling the old bridge began in late 2012 to make way for construction of a replacement. The old bridge was built in 1920 and its foundation was deteriorating.

PCL Civil Constructors Inc. of Tampa, Fla., is building the new bridge at a construction contract cost of $11.9 million. It is scheduled to be finished next summer.