Client:
New Jersey Department of Transportation

Location:
Elizabeth, New Jersey

Project Cost
$49,730,468

Completion Date
Spring, 2007

Reference
John Corbo
NJDOT Resident Engineer
(908) 355-5924
405 Clarkson Ave.
Elizabeth, NJ 07202

The Rt. 1&9, Section 4T project is currently under construction and involves the staged erection of two bridges to replace the historic Elizabeth Viaduct constructed circa 1929 over the Elizabeth River and the Downtown Marketplace. The eastern bridge was constructed first to hold both north and southbound traffic while the existing viaduct is demolished and the western bridge is constructed in its place.

Each bridge will be approximately 1,870' long and 53' wide allowing for three travel lanes with one full width and one partial width shoulder for both north and southbound traffic. The bridge deck is constructed of reinforced high performance concrete. Six steel girders spanning fifteen cast-in-place concrete piers support each deck. Foundation construction consists of 88 drilled shafts ranging in diameter from 4.5' to 9.5' drilled to bedrock up to 40' deep. At rock line, shafts transition into rock sockets that in some cases are cored in excess of 15' deep.

In addition to the bridges there was over 28,000 tons of bituminous concrete pavement. Six retaining walls were constructed of both cast-in-place and mechanical stabilized earth type. Site work includes the installation of more than 9,000' of concrete and ductile iron pipe accompanied by approximately 125 inlets and manholes, as well as four storm water treatment chambers.

The many architectural accents on this project include granite paving, glazed brick, decorative form-liner and porcelain enamel plaques illustrating the importance and history of the local highway systems.