Editor's Note: This story was updated to report that the bridge has reopened.
In Cincinnati, crews working for the Ohio Department of Transportation have completed repairs to the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, achieving the department’s goal to reopen southbound I-471 by March after it was severely damaged by fire in November.
The project involved two deck pours, with the second one including a new side wall and connecting the structure, locally referred to as the Big Mac Bridge, to the first deck pour.
The first deck pour for the approach to the bridge, which connects Cincinnati and Newport, Kentucky, began January 25 and required 27 truckloads of concrete, making up 250 cubic yards.
The Ohio DOT stated that, to combat the cold temperatures, general contractor Great Lakes Construction, which did the pours, used forced-air heaters between the girders and insulated blankets to maintain warm enough temperatures on the first pour. Among the six heaters used, five were 500,000-BTU heaters. This way, crews were able to keep the temperature for the pours at around 60-70 degrees.
Additionally, wireless probes were added to remotely monitor temperatures and provide real-time data for making adjustments.
Also being used at 10 modular steel towers from Acrow to support the structure, which will remain in place throughout the reconstruction.
Next steps for construction include installing fences, striping lanes and installing a new overhead sign gantry. As of the late January first pour, Ohio DOT said construction was on schedule. The first three custom-made girders on the approach were installed by January 13.
According to news reports, the Big Mac Bridge's southbound lanes reopened February 9.
“Reopening southbound access to this bridge in just over three months is a tremendous accomplishment," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "The closure of these lanes wasn't only an inconvenience, but also a disruption to the supply chain. I applaud our ODOT team and their partners for working hard to finish the project ahead of schedule."
