Construction
01 Aug 11
Ottawa bridge replaced in overnight operation
The Carling Avenue eastbound bridge in Ottawa, Canada, was replaced in just 15.5 hours over the weekend.
The old bridge was lifted away and replaced overnight with a pre-constructed bridge, which had been built nearby.
This is the third time on the Ottawa Queensway that the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has used self propelled modular transporters to remove existing bridges, then transport new bridges into place. This technology had already been used successfully at Island Park Drive (2007) and Clyde Avenue (2008).
Replacement of the Carling Avenue bridge was needed to prepare for the future widening of Highway 417. Replacing the bridge in less than one day helped to prevent traffic congestion for the 136,000 vehicles that use the bridge every day. It also lowered construction costs and increased site safety.
The new bridges are 21m long and the eastbound bridge is 21m wide while the westbound bridge is 30m wide. The weight of the heavier bridge is approximately 700 tonnes. Conventional rehabilitation of this type of bridge would take two to three years to complete with lane closures, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
