Virgin River

 This ADOT project consists of removing the exterior metal bridge railings and replacing them with cast-in-place railings on 10 structures.  It also includes the removal of the interior overhangs of twin structures, erecting new steel plate girders and casting a new deck between the bridges, tying the two structures together to make one.  Strengthening repair was required due to partial failures of the existing steel beams and makes two “weak” bridges into one “stronger” bridge.  The existing north abutment is also to be post-tensioned as part of the strengthening effort.The challenge to the project is the traffic control required on this very hilly, narrow stretch of Interstate that is a major link between California & Nevada to the north -Utah, Idaho and Montana.  The majority of the traffic is semi-trucks and many are triple-bottom  trailers.  The other challenge is that the bridge with the new girders is approximately 125 feet above the Virgin River.