Client: Jefferson County (PA) Commissioners
Year Completed: 2010
Project Cost: $60,000
The Dobson Road Bridge was closed to traffic and targeted for demolition in 2010. Recent bridge inspections revealed severe deterioration of truss tension members, cross-bracing and gusset plates. Constructed in 1901, the modified-Pratt truss bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Bridges and required costly design considerations. Therefore, funding for a replacement bridge was not forthcoming from state and federal agencies. In response to local residents concerns, the Jefferson County Commissioners tasked Gwin, Dobson & Foreman with a design solution to restore nominal bridge capacity.
GD&F designed the project according to US Department of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. The repairs were approved by the PA Bureau of Historical Preservation and PennDOT District 10-0.
In order to fast track the project, an emergency DEP permit was secured. The bid documents and permit provided the contractor flexibility by allowing various means and methods for the repairs. This process insured the Commissioners received the most economical repair possible.
The project included bolted splices of deteriorated truss members and cross bracing, replacement of deteriorated gusset plates, and pouring of a concrete backwall. Following three weeks of repair, GD&F conducted the final construction and NBIS inspection to reopen the bridge to traffic. GD&F monitored the contractor’s work throughout.
All work was done under the auspices of PennDOT 10-0, Indiana, PA and coordinated with the Jefferson County Commissioners, Jefferson County Conservation District, Oliver and Ringold Townships, PA Fish and Boat Commission, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Army Corp of Engineers, and PA Historical Museum Commission.