Page 76 • August 14, 2019 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE

Rodanthe Bridge Features Distinctive ‘Jug Handle’ Design

Flatiron and its subs are instead relying on a rail trestlesystem over the sound to move the heavy equipment, such ascranes and gantries, to where they are needed as the bridgeconstruction progresses. The contractor’s innovativeAdvancing Rail System combines the ability to work along-side and ahead of the just-completed bridge structure andleapfrog temporary work sections.The contractor also put an emphasis on using precast ele-

ments throughout the project, including precast piling, caps,girders and deck panels, among others.“The rail system features two tracks that run parallel with

the structure such that the cranes and other equipment strad-dle the footprint of the bridge,” Hernandez described.“Those materials are driven along the finished roadway, thenthe straddle equipment can carry it out to where it will beplaced. That would include piling, concrete for the caps andthe girders, the deck panels and the deck concrete. Theequipment utilizes motorized bogies that are electricallydriven and computer controlled so that they run in sync.“I think you would call it a very linear-based construc-

tion,” he continued.Hernandez added that the heavy equipment used to

methodically build the Rodanthe Bridge was imported fromDeal, the Italian manufacturer recognized as a world-leaderin the field of specialized equipment for bridge and viaductconstruction.

Construction Picks Up the Pace in 2019By the new year, Flatiron and its subs mobilized to the

north end of the project where a minor onsite detour wasbuilt that shifted N.C. 12 about 30 ft. to the east. Thatallowed crews to operate in the footprint of where the newbridge ties into the highway. Soon enough, they were able todrive some of the concrete piling of the new structure at theend while also erecting rail trestle.Since the winter, work has ramped up substantially. In late

May, construction was humming along rapidly at severalpoints on the bridge project, according to Hernandez. By theend of June, NCDOT expects several key milestones to takeplace at the Rodanthe Bridge work site:

South End (in northern Rodanthe)• Work Trestle— Steel pipe pile installation to take place

for Bridge Bent 8 to Bent 12. Track girders will be installedas individual steel pile clusters are fitted. Pile driving can be

expected to take place during daylight hours.• Bridge Piling — Concrete cylinder piles are set to be

driven for Bridge Bent 4 to Bent 8 and pile driving is sched-uled to occur in the daytime. • Cap Concrete Placements — Concrete will be placed

for Bridge Bent Cap 1 to Bent Cap 4 (on land adjacent toPappy Lane).

• Girders — Set deck slabs Spans 1 and 2 adjacent toPappy Lane.

North End (at southern end of wildlife refuge)• Work Trestle — Steel pipe pile installation will take

place for Bridge Bent 98 to Bent 101 (at the very north endof the bridge approximately 1,400 ft. from the north shore-line). Track girders will be installed as individual steel pileclusters are fitted. Pile driving to happen Monday to Sunday.• Girders — Deck slab girders will be installed for Span

103 and Span 107 (at the north end of the bridge approxi-mately 1,650 ft. from the north shoreline).All the pile driving on the structure is expected to be fin-

ished by summer 2020, according to NCDOT. The stateagency also has proposed the construction of a one-laneroundabout at the south end of the new bridge near thewildlife refuge. Hernandez said traffic would be maintained on the exist-

ing N.C. 12 while the new bridge is being built. Once con-struction is complete, the old roadway through the wildlifesanctuary will be removed and that land would be returnedto the federal refuge. In Rodanthe, the existing N.C. 12 road-way will be used by tourists and residents to access privateproperties.

New Span Should Break the CycleThe unique design and construction of a bridge over wet-

lands and around a small part of Rodanthe should end theseemingly never-ending cycle of “damage-and-repair” forNCDOT.“With N.C. 12 having been moved around several times

after damaging storms and fixes, it became evident it’s astretch of road that could not be saved, certainly not withouta tremendous amount of engineering and monetaryresources,” Hernandez explained from the work zone inMay. “I personally have worked to repair this very spot threetimes since 2009 — once after a nor’easter, then after Ireneand again after Sandy.”The building of the new Rodanthe Bridge comes just

weeks after the new Bonner Bridge (renamed the MarcBasnight Bridge) was dedicated and fully opened to traffic.That 2.8-mi.-long N.C. 12 Highway structure is located onthe north end of Pea Island and connects the highway toBodie Island over the Oregon Inlet. Ironically, the large inletwas itself a result of a breach from a massive hurricane in1846. CEG

The heavy equipment used to build the Rodanthe Bridge was imported from Deal, anItalian manufacturer.

Flatiron and its subs are instead relying on a rail tres-tle system over the Pamlico Sound to move heavyequipment, such as cranes and gantries, to wherethey are needed as the bridge construction progress-es.

RODANTHE from page 56

Flatiron Construction, along with design partner RK&K, were awarded the con-tract to design-build the new $145 million Rodanthe Bridge in January 2017.