11walton street bridge replacement

Chuck Stanton Christopher Rauber 499 Col. Eileen Collins Blvd. Rm 401 City Hall Syracuse, NY 13212 Syracuse, NY 13202 Phone: (315)455-2000 Phone: (315)448-8219 Fx. (315)454-0781 Synopsis:

The replacement of the Walton Street Bridge over Onondaga Creek, located on the edge of the historic Armory Square District in the City of Syracuse required innovative design concepts as well as continuous effort and coordination with the downtown merchants and residents that was above and beyond the typical bridge replacement project. This presentation will provide a roadmap for Municipalities to progress projects of this type, with an overview of the following:

1. Public outreach programs – Prior to the start of this project, local businesses formed a stakeholder group to ensure that they had a voice in the project. Periodic meetings during all phases of design provided direction for the project and ensured that all stakeholders had a voice. Key concerns gleaned from these meetings were to: maintain vehicle and pedestrian traffic during construction, minimize construction time, and use the bridge project as an opportunity to enhance the character of the area;

2. Techniques to reduce construction impacts – In addition to providing stage construction, prefabricated superstructure units were incorporated, and the existing stone abutments on timber piles were reused, all with the goal of speeding construction and reducing excavation impacts;

3. Historic preservation techniques and SHPO coordination – The key to project success is early and frequent contact with SHPO regarding the proposed project and its impacts. In this project, both the Municipality and the Consultant worked hand-in-hand with SHPO from the start of the project to minimize project costs and impacts associated with a required Stage 1B investigation by shifting the Stage 1B investigation to construction, where it could be incorporated into required excavation work;

4. Project enhancements – Simple, inexpensive details like custom bridge railings, brick inlays, and ornamental lighting added to the look and character of the project and provided a finished product that complements the area.

SESSION 3.3

Walton Street Bridge Replacement

About the Presenters:

Chuck Stanton currently holds the position of Senior Project Engineer at C&S Engineers Inc., where he is a structural engineer and project manager in their Highway/Bridge Group. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1995 with a BS in Civil Engineering, after which he spent a year and a half working for a highway/bridge contractor. Chuck took a position at C&S after moving back home to Syracuse, and has been with C&S for nine years. He holds PE's in both New York and Ohio. Chuck has been involved with the design of over 25 bridges, comprised of a mixture of local, local aid, State, and Thruway projects in both urban and rural settings. A number of these projects have involved significant coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office and public involvement. Christopher Rauber has served as the Division Engineer for the City of Syracuse since 2004. Chris manages the design and construction of highway projects varying in size and scope within the city. Projects which Chris has been involved with include paving, curbing, sidewalk, lighting, as well as utility replacements such as storm and sanitary storm sewers. In addition to highway projects Mr. Rauber also manages bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects. He also assists in the management of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the city, which involves coordination with many outside agencies such as NYSDEC, SHPO, FHWA, NYSDOT and other stakeholder groups and associations. Prior to his work as the Division Engineer, Chris served for 3 years as the Facilities Engineer for the City of Syracuse where he worked as a Project Engineer and manager for various highway and bridge projects including the Walton Street Bridge Replacement Project, the Solar-Kirkpatrick Street Improvement Project, the Creekwalk Project, the Lakefront Harbor Signage Project, and the Clinton Square Project.

Presentation Outline

1. Project Description2. Public Outreach Program (Design & Const.)3. Incorporation of Public Outreach Results4. Historic Preservation 5. Including the Contractor in the Project6. Project Results7. Summary

Project Description

• Location– Downtown

Syracuse– Armory Square

Historic District– Mixed Use

2003 Aerial Photo

BRIDGE LOCATION

WALTON ST

FRA

NK

LIN

ST

WEST ST M.O.S.T.

ON

ON. CREEK

Project Description

• Attractive & Popular Commercial Area

Project Description

• Attractive and Popular Commercial Area

Project Description

• Build Date: 1884, with Many Modifications• Start as Trolley and Carriage• Widened for Vehicles• Converted to Motorized Vehicle Use Only• Re-decked

Project Description

• Existing Bridge In Poor Condition

• One Sidewalk Closed• Holes in Deck

Walton Street Bridge Pre-Construction

Project Description

• Bridge was Detracting from Area

Public Outreach

• Established “Stakeholders”– Downtown Committee– Armory Square Association – Walton Street Task Force

Public Outreach

• Scheduled Meetings with Stakeholders– Prior to Development of Alternatives– After Selection of Preferred Alternative– During Preliminary Design– At Final Design

Public Outreach

• Unscheduled Meetings with Stakeholders– On Request, Brief Updates– Lesson Learned: Keep Records of

Unscheduled Meetings!

Public Outreach

• Purpose of Meetings– Establish/Document Community Goals– Present Current Design Alts– Provide Direction for Design– Communicate Schedule

• Lets Participants Know That Their Opinion Counts!

Public Outreach Results

• Community Goals– Minimize Impact on Vehicular Traffic– Minimize Impact on Pedestrian Traffic– Minimize Construction Time– Project Should Complement Area

• Bottom Line: Project Finished by Thanksgiving– Start of Holiday Shopping Season

Incorporated Task Force Concerns

• Minimize Impact on Vehicular/Pedestrian Traffic, Minimize Construction Time– Stage Construction– Save Existing Abutments– Use Prefabricated Superstructure (Inverset)

• Project Should Complement Area– Addition of Aesthetic Elements

• Project Finished by Thanksgiving– Addition of Language to Contract Docs

Desire to Save Abutments

• Advantages of Keeping Abutments– Lessens Excavation Impacts– Speeds Project– Aesthetic Value

Existing Abutment Layout

AbutmentSection

Timber Mat and Pile Foundation

Visual Condition Assessment

Subsurface Investigation

• Borings– Dense Gravel at Bearing Elevation

• NDT – Impact Echo Technique– Verified Front Row of Piles Per Plan– Information Less Definitive for Other Rows– Timber Piles and Mat in Good Condition– Grout Loss Limited to Surficial 6”

Evaluation of Results

• Calculated Pile Capacity: 40 to 50 Kips• Front Row of Pile Inadequate for Eccentric Load• No Apparent Movement over 116-Year Life• Existing Superstructure Acts as Brace

Risks Evaluated & Accepted

• Risks/Unknowns– Flexural Strength/Rigidity of Abutments– Load Capacity of Entire Pile Group

• Positive Factors– 116 Years of Adequate Performance– Good Data on Timber Mat and Piles– Sudden, Catastrophic Failure not Expected– Saves $0.5 to $1.0 Million

Addition of Aesthetic Elements

• Custom Bridge Railing• Brick Inlay in Sidewalk• Maintain Positive Aspects of Look and Feel of

Old Bridge– Retain Abutments– Prefabricated Deck System with Steel Girders– Color Match of Old/New Girder Paint

Project Finished by Thanksgiving

• Language in Contract Documents– Finish Date, Liquidated Damages

• Other Considerations for Residents– Restricted Hours of Operation to Standard

Working Day– Invoked City Ordinances on Noise– Requirements for Clean Work Area– Blackout Dates Around Community Events

Historic Preservation

• Personal Link to the Past• Great-Grandfather was

Commissioner of Public Works in 1927


1868 Map of Walton Street and Surroundings

BRIDGE LOCATION


• Phase 1A Investigation Results– Mill Pond Filled in by 1852– Many Historic & Significant Buildings– Located Within Project Area – Machine Shop,

Furniture Factory, Cash Register and Dynamo Companies

• Start Early w/SHPO, Goal of “No Adverse Effect”• Frequent Communication & Status Updates


• SHPO Review• Stone Abutments not

Critical• Railing and Potential

Buried Resources More Important

Sidewalk and Railing


• Phase 1B Requirements Were Impractical– 16 Foot Deep Excavations Required– More Excavation Than Construction

FOUNDATIONEL

EL -16.0’

EL 0.0

LIMITS

FINISH GRADEEX. GRADE


• Phase 1B During Construction– SHPO Anticipated that Finds Could be

Documented then Destroyed or Buried– Worked with

Archaeologist to Develop Contract Document Provisions

– SHPO Approved Procedure

Public Outreach During Construction

• Brochure Describing Project and M&PT– Displayed at all Local Businesses– Included Instructions to Find Alternate Parking

• Modified Weekly Construction Meeting– Public Safety and Business Representatives– 1st 15-20 Minutes Dedicated to Discussion of

Schedule and Project Impacts on Locals

Public Outreach During Construction

• Press Releases for Key Construction Events• Consultant Construction Manager

– Made Weekly Visits– Informal Venue for Concerns

Coordination with Contractor

• Requirements Placed on Contractor– Contract Provisions from Public Outreach– Workers Need to be Polite and Courteous to

Public• Be Open to Contractor’s Suggestions

– Work With Contractor’s Strengths

Project Result: M&PT

• Goal: Minimize Impact on Vehicle & Ped Traffic– Original M&PT – One Way Traffic First Stage– Worked with

Contractor to Provide Two Way Traffic for Entire Project

– Kept One Sidewalk Open for Entire Project

Project Result: Fast Construction

– Retained Existing Abutments

– Used InversetPanels (Drop and Drive)

– Contract Docs Reflected Time Frame

• Goal: Minimize Construction Time

Project Result: Out By Thanksgiving

• Little to No Impact on Businesses!• Gauge by Public Input

– “I Don’t Know That the Bridge is Being Replaced”

– Sentiment Echoed by Store Owners and at Meetings

Project Result: Out By Thanksgiving

• Little to No Impact on Businesses! (Cont.)• Total of 3 Planned Road Closures of 1 Day

Duration Ea.• Bridge Open Within 4 ½ Months, Cleanup and

Other Tasks Extended to Thanksgiving• Parking Now Allowed On Bridge

Project Result: Aesthetics

• Goal: Project Should Complement Armory Square• Result:

Project Results: Aesthetics

September 17, 1913 – Photo of Bridge and Buildings

End the Project on a High Note

• Provides Closure and Positive Press For Project• Says ‘Thank You’ to All Businesses and

Residents Who Lived With the Project

Summary

• Saving 1884 Abutments Important to Project Success

• Thorough Public Outreach Resulted in Happy Merchants and Successful Project

• Don’t Be Afraid to Suggest an Alternate Approach to SHPO When it Makes Sense

• Subtle Aesthetic Treatments Go a Long Way Towards Adding Character to a Bridge

Any Questions?