Neil Avenue, Arena District
City of ColumbusIn planning a downtown re-development centered on the new Blue Jackets Hockey Arena, the importance of infrastructure improvements became evident early in the process. The widening of Neil Avenue required that the overhead CSX railroad bridge be replaced. The existing girders of the multi-track four span steel structure appealed to the architect, and it was decided that the replacement structure would retain the appearance of older riveted construction for these aesthetics. Our engineers sized its width to accommodate the single remaining active rail line, and a future line dedicated to light rail transit. Complex utility, easement, and profile issues did not afford much freedom in the layout of the proposed bridge’s alignment. Careful co-ordination with roadway construction plans and maintenance of vehicular/rail traffic was crucial if the aggressive construction schedule was to be met. EMH&T’s Stage Construction plan required a part width demolition of the existing bridge, which temporarily relocated the active line to one side. This allowed construction of the new bridge on the original horizontal alignment. The resulting structure is a 117-foot simple span “through-girder” design, comprised of plates, angles, and bolted connections to achieve the aesthetics mentioned above. Main girders are nearly 12-feet deep at mid-span, which contribute to the total structural steel quantity of over one million pounds. The entire design and construction was completed in a mere 18 months. The Neil Avenue project was subsequently awarded an Excellence in Highway Design Award by FHWA.
SERVICES PROVIDED ON THIS PROJECT
- Transportation & Traffic Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Land Surveying
