Page 22 - ACEC/PA – 2024 Diamond Awards Program

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Project Name: Broad Street Bridge Reconstruction
Firm: WSP USA Inc.
Owner: PennDOT District 6-0
Key Partners:  Loftus Construction, Inc.; Urban Engineers, Inc.;
AWK Consulting Engineers; Larson Design Group, Inc.
Originally built in 1898, the Broad Street bridge was reconstructed in 1955 and renovated
in 1983. This structure is in an urban setting with its foundation over the SEPTA Broad
Street Line and its location between two major iconic buildings: the Terminal Commerce
Building and the Philadelphia Inquirer Building. Challenges included the presence of
numerous utilities that had to be maintained during construction, an abandoned railroad,
parking spaces under the bridge and driveway access to one of the adjacent buildings. The
reconstruction of this bridge was complex and involved the full superstructure replacement
including deck and beams, rehabilitation of both abutments, full replacement of three piers,
reconstruction/partial replacement of a third pier, and removal of 100-year-old features. The
WSP team analyzed the scope of the existing bridge and determined what could remain
and what would be replaced. Design and construction of this project took the structure’s
features into consideration with great importance on maintaining service to the existing
traffic, building operations and utilities. Existing utilities and the SEPTA Broad Street line,
located under the work area, were maintained without disruption. The Inquirer Building
rehabilitation project controlled the ramp to spans pertinent to areas of the project. The
project team innovated and decided to construct a pass-thru that would allow access to all
spans from the opposing ramps. This was done concurrently during construction allowing
the redesign and construction components to all take place within a matter of weeks.
Category H | Transportation