Rehabilitation of Ponus Ridge Road over Collins Pond
Town of New Canaan
Up against a significant utility coordination delay, our Construction Inspection Service Team strategized a solution to enable construction to proceed as scheduled using a bold alternative demolition plan.
Client need
This project carried a built-in urgency: Emergency vehicles were unable to travel over the bridge due to an instituted weight restriction. Furthermore, due to the narrow curb-to-curb width, the structure was classified as functionally obsolete.
However, the challenges extended beyond the bridge’s physical condition. Working in a constrained residential area upstream from a high-hazard, environmentally sensitive dam, meant that there were multiple priorities to balance. Consequently, effective communication and coordination among the entire project team and stakeholders was critical.
The assignment was complicated due to the constrained site. The team was required to construct the new building while the existing facility and site amenities were in full use, leaving little room to spare.
Our approach
This construction project included replacing the current superstructure with precast concrete deck units, and widening the bridge to accommodate a 10-foot travel lane and a 2-foot shoulder in each direction. Although the work was routine, utility coordination issues might have shifted the timeline. Our team stayed on schedule by devising an innovative alternative demolition plan. Furthermore, given that the structure was upstream from the hazardous dam, we were deliberate in our communications with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) and stored all construction materials at a sufficient distance from the watercourse in the event of extreme weather conditions.
With the project being part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) Local Bridge Program, diligent project administration was essential to ensure the town received its maximum reimbursement. With an understanding of CTDOT regulations, our team ensured that all time-sensitive requirements were upheld for a smooth project close-out.
Finally, recognizing the project’s impact, the town was dedicated to communicating the progress of the planned rehabilitation work to its residents. M&J responded by supporting the town’s public outreach efforts to ensure inclusive, unfettered communication.
Results
Our goal? Leave the neighborhood as good, if not better, than we found it while efficiently restoring this critical piece of infrastructure. Taking our lead from the designer’s attention to aesthetic detail, we knew it was imperative that we perform our work unobtrusively. The best way to accomplish this was to integrate the structure seamlessly within the pre-existing environment. In less than six months, emergency vehicles were once again able to travel over this newly adorned structure.
In our team’s words
“The reconstruction of the bridge over Collin’s pond took a lot of effort and teamwork or it would not have been possible. The service we were able to provide for the people and the interactions with the community, which proved how important this was to everyone, made this a great experience. Every effort made by the construction team was aimed to deliver a quality and on-time project for the public!”
— Connor Oakes, PE, Chief Inspector