LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today it was recently selected by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to implement the state's first highway bridge replacement project to utilize the innovative Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) method, known as a lateral slide. The firm received the contract to provide design services for the replacement of two parallel bridges over De Roche Creek on Interstate 30 (I-30) in Southwest Arkansas near the City of Arkadelphia. Using the ABC technique commonly known as a lateral slide bridge replacement, ARDOT intends to use this project to introduce another ABC replacement method in Arkansas, since the practice helps minimize traffic impacts and improves passenger and worker safety.
As a national leader in the implementation of ABC projects, Michael Baker will perform bridge replacement design and offer guidance to ARDOT engineers on the implementation of the lateral slide to the state's emerging ABC program. As the initial task under this contract, Michael Baker conducted a Bridge Construction Staging Study to compare various lateral slide replacement options. After comparing the safety, traffic impact, cost and other factors, Michael Baker recommended an approach which uses two separate lateral slides to replace both bridges. In this approach, two new bridges will be constructed on temporary falsework to the north and south of the existing parallel bridges, while crews construct a permanent substructure for the proposed bridges underneath the existing bridges. Once completed, two separate bridge-slide operations will be performed to move each of the new bridges into their permanent positions. This option limits traffic disruption to two short-term periods—roughly three days each—during which traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction.
"I-30 is a heavily trafficked interstate route that connects Little Rock and other cities including Memphis, Tennessee to Dallas, so using ABC to replace the bridges over the De Roche Creek was the ideal design and construction choice to help reduce lane closure time and improve safety," said Mike Stengel, Vice President and Office Executive for Michael Baker's Little Rock office. "Michael Baker's expertise with ABC will help ARDOT implement its first lateral slide bridge replacement project to serve as a model for the Department as they continue to implement this innovative approach across the state."
The design phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in October 2018. In addition to the design work, Michael Baker will provide construction support services—including extensive on-site guidance and coordination during the slide operations—throughout the duration of the construction phase. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2019.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.
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SOURCE Michael Baker International