Wrightsville Beach Bridge Rehabilitation

Completed in 2014 by American Bridge, the Wrightsville Beach Bridge Rehabilitation project involved upgrading Bridge 12 in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The work included rehabilitating the double-leaf bascule span, replacing steel stringers, cross bracing, and the open grate steel deck, as well as painting existing steel. Concrete repairs, deck overlays, and installation of a new concrete generator pad were also performed. A new two-story control house was built, encapsulating the old one, and mechanical equipment was upgraded. Electrical work involved replacing wiring, controls, and systems, ensuring the bridge remained operational during construction.This project includes the rehabilitation of the double?leaf bascule portion of the bridge on US 74/76 over the Intracoastal Waterway and the construction of a new updated control house. This bridge is the only means of vehicular access to Wrightsville Beach, NC and is to remain open to vehicular traffic while also remaining operable for marine traffic, as approved by the USCG. AB will perform the structural steel work consisting of the removal and replacement of existing steel stringers, cross bracing and open grate steel bridge grid deck. The work also includes painting of existing structural steel (vacuum?blast, clean, prime/paint), overlay of the concrete deck with modified concrete, pressure?injection concrete crack repairs to substructure and new concrete generator pad. The new upgraded two story operator control house will be constructed over and encapsulate the existing one story control house which must remain functional throughout until systems switch?over is complete. Rehabilitation to the bascule bridge operational mechanical equipment includes the removal and replacement of span drive motors, motor and machinery breaks, auxiliary span drives, center and tail locks, span opening limit switch drive systems; installation of new Hopkins frame bases, as well as rebuilding of existing air buffers; while ensuring bridge remains operational and maintaining and span balance during construction. Electrical work consists of replacement of existing electrical equipment, conduits and wiring including bridge control system, auxiliary drive controls, span limit switches, electrical service with standby generator service system, traffic gates lighting as well as submarine cable, navigational lighting and all other electrical work required.