Tag Archive for: temporary bridge construction

Replacing the Showman Arch Bridge in Newark, Ohio

This past month, the City of Newark, Ohio, shut down the deteriorating Showman Arch Bridge on Cherry Valley Road without notice, disrupting traffic flows and angering much of the community. As a result, the city plans to reopen the crossing with a temporary 160-foot-span bridge.

The Newark, Ohio, City Council approved the necessary resolutions to provide American Rescue Plan funds and waive bids to cover the cost of the 1.5 million dollar emergency project. The temporary solution will sit above the current bridge, resting upon foundations at either end. This will allow travel to resume without further damaging the aging bridge.

U.S. Bridge is responsible for constructing the temporary bridge and will install it at the site in sections starting in early 2023. Upon installation, traffic will resume on the temporary bridge without load limits.

City Engineer Brian Morehead told the press the closure wasn’t due to visible changes in the bridge. Rather, a federal official closed the bridge after a separate evaluation.

A New Bridge for Newark, Ohio

Initially, the 189-year-old bridge carried water, not traffic, with a connecting roadway that potentially houses ancient pottery and arrowheads. Morehead says that digging for artifacts from Native Americans shouldn’t slow down the project. 

A new three-span steel girder bridge will connect Thornwood Crossing to Thornwood Drive. Reddington Road, Thornwood Drive, and a relocated River Road will connect to the bike path with a new roundabout.

The Showman Arch Bridge stood firm despite showing cracks and other signs of decay when ODOT and city engineers started monitoring the bridge 33 years ago. 

Once the permanent structure is up in 2025, the temporary bridge will be taken down and reserved for later construction. Meanwhile, the Showman Arch Bridge will stay open strictly for pedestrian use.

Addressing the Congestion

Unfortunately, the sudden closure of the bridge in Newark, Ohio, has caused backlash and traffic congestion. This presents a serious issue because the absence of a bridge has slowed response times from the fire station on West Main Street and made it difficult for medics to enter Licking Memorial Hospital.

U.S. Bridge understands the community’s frustration, and we are dedicated to providing the City of Newark with a fluid path to ease congestion. The final plans envision a semi-truck-friendly economic development corridor from Ohio 16 to Interstate 70.

U.S. Bridge: Serving Ohio and the World

Based out of Cambridge, Ohio, U.S. Bridge is proud to serve all of the U.S. and the rest of the world. Over 80 years ago, we laid the foundation for providing dependable service and products.

Contact us today to find out what our expert team of professionals can do for you. Or use our exclusive BridgeScope tool to get your project started today! 

Permanent vs Temporary Bridge Construction: A Guide

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Temporary vs Permanent Bridge Construction | U.S. Bridge

If you’re attempting to restore an existing bridge or trying to replace a destroyed bridge, you may be wondering if you should erect a permanent bridge or a temporary one. Most likely, you’re thinking of building a temporary bridge construction until the permanent construction is done — but does that really save money?

What exactly is the difference between temporary and permanent bridge construction? With advancements in technology, specifically accelerated bridge construction, many projects can forgo a temporary bridge — often saving millions of dollars.

Let’s break down the main differences between permanent and temporary bridge construction.

Time: How soon do you need the bridge?

Generally, temporary bridges are quick to erect and dismantle as they are often used in emergency scenarios. That being said, temporary bridges take away time and money from permanent constructions. With just a few more weeks, a permanent bridge can be built without the added effort of a temporary bridge. This can save taxpayers and local governments by forgoing them whenever possible.

Many temporary and permanent bridge construction are pre-assembled if they are made with prefabricated bridge kits. This saves builders time during the planning and construction phase.

Additionally, prefabricated kits manufactured by U.S. Bridge ensure the addition of a U.S. Bridge team member to oversee the construction, to make it efficient and effective.

Affordability: How does it affect your budget?

Recently, more and more bridges are completed with prefabricated construction and are produced with lightweight materials such as steel. This means that less heavy equipment is required for installation. For example, our bridge kits are assembled before they reach the job site.

Ultimately, the erection of a temporary and permanent bridge is more expensive since builders are erecting two structures rather than one.  Builders can save money by investing in a prefabricated permanent bridge rather than erect a temporary bridge.

Longevity: How long do you need the bridge?

Temporary bridges are just that: temporary structures. Its integrity is intended for a select period of time and in comparison to permanent bridges — which are meant to last for generations — it isn’t suited for nearly the same amount of constant traffic use. Temporary bridges may need frequent examinations to ensure that the bridge is able to hold the weight of daily traffic.

The life span of any construction will depend on the level of maintenance kept. Several elements such as the location, weather, and usage frequency all contribute to the erosion of a bridge. Additionally, the longevity of a bridge is determined by the material used. Builders can aid in the prevention of erosion by protecting their bridges with galvanization or other preventative methods.

Since each bridge varies, builders should seek the manufacturer for specific instructions on installation and long-term maintenance.

Build your bridge with U.S. Bridge

With over 80 years in the bridge construction industry, U.S. Bridges has designed, engineered, and built over 10,000 bridges worldwide. We’ve built various bridges from prefabricated to permanent construction such as the Mulholland Highway Bridge in Los Angeles County and the Marble Cliff bridge in Columbus, Ohio.

In addition, to facilitate the building process we design custom prefabricated Bridge Kits that come with one of our experienced team members to assist construction. We build each bridge to fit your specific needs. Contact us today and let’s talk about how we can make your bridge project a long-lasting success.