Rehabilitation of Historic Devon Bridge Over Housatonic River
Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
This project pioneered the use of Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) as a roadway-wearing surface—a first in the State of Connecticut.
Client need
The goal of the project was clear: elevate the bridge to a “State of Good Repair,” while enhancing its safety, reliability, and structural integrity. With widespread structural deterioration and wear impacting the concrete and steel elements, comprehensive rehabilitation was imperative. At the same time, the bridge had to be kept operational for vehicular and marine traffic crossing throughout the project’s duration.
Our approach
It all started with a synergistic collaboration between our thorough, precise Construction Inspection Service Team and the Designer and Contractor. We assessed every aspect of the bridge’s condition, focusing on concrete and steel components. The team prioritized fixing cracks and hollow areas, and addressing other issues, while reinforcing steel parts and upgrading the deck with advanced techniques. In particular, the project team used Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) as a roadway-wearing surface, a first in the State of Connecticut.
But we didn’t stop at basic repairs. The project team identified and addressed additional scopes of work, such as suggesting the replacement of a deteriorated weldment beam to preserve the sustainability and resiliency of the structure. Our spectrum of work included everything from patching to spot painting and upgrading motors. We ensured meticulous management of traffic throughout the construction period, ensuring safety and convenience with a carefully planned three-stage process.
Results
The ultimate goal of the project, which culminated in a triumphant completion in fall 2023, was to preserve the vital link between the Town of Stratford and the City of Milford. By proactively addressing deterioration and wear, we not only restored its functional value and preserved its effective performance but safeguarded its place on the National Register of Historic Places for years to come.
This project was awarded the 2024 Connecticut Building Council’s Project Team Award of Merit for Large Transportation.
In our team’s words
“Working on The Devon Bridge Rehabilitation project was one of my best career experiences so far. First and foremost the owner, designer, inspection, and contractor teams were extremely knowledgeable, proactive, and very cooperative throughout the entire duration of the project. The technical intricacies of a bascule drawbridge, were very challenging but also made the job very rewarding knowing the positive impact that it would have in our local community for the years to come. Over a decade after I had worked on the first UHPC (Ultra High Performance Concrete) research project at the University of Connecticut as an undergraduate assistant, I was finally able to see the real-life application (first use case in CT on a steel grid deck roadway) of one of the most unique and innovative materials in the construction industry.”
— Andi Karica, PE, Office Engineer