Route 7 over Passaic River
Location: Bellville,
New Jersey
Client: New Jersey Department of Transportation
Designed by Hardesty & Hanover and constructed by M.J. Paquet, Inc.,
this bridge is owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The
new tower driven, vertical lift Route 7 Bridge replaces an existing 85-year-old,
single-leaf, Strauss heel trunnion bascule bridge that was considered to
be in critical condition due to several factors—low live load capacity,
little remaining fatigue life, and failure to meet AASHTO seismic criteria.
The new bridge comprises two, 81-ft approach spans; two, 16-ft 6in. tower
spans; and a 125-ft lift span. The existing bridge had four substandard
width lanes that measured less than 10 feet each and two sidewalks. The
new bridge carries two, 12-ft lanes; two, 15-ft lanes; and two, 6-ft sidewalks.
Two project design goals—to maximize the design life and to minimize
the life cycle costs of this structure—were considered paramount
and directed many design decisions that were made during the project.
To achieve those goals, New Jersey DOT and the designer decided to use
LRFD, metalizing, and silica fume concrete in the deck gratings (all incorporated
for the first time on a New Jersey movable bridge), and subsequently assess
their collective benefits over the design life of the bridge. These and
other efforts are reflected in a new lift bridge that is visually appealing,
technically proficient, and fiscally responsible.
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