Alexander Hamilton Bridge Ramp

This $417 million project involved the re-decking and repairs to the superstructure steel of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge (AHB) and associated ramps. For the re decking extensive, staging was involved, including permanent lane closures and temporary structures. Three temporary ramps were constructed to maintain the traffic at various stages of construction.

SJH prepared design drawings and specifications for Temporary Ramp “D” and the associated substructures. The contractor opted to use steel for all temporary structures, so the temporary ramps are steel structures, with steel plated decks (“Battle Deck”) supported by steel floorbeams and stringers. The floorbeams and stringers are welded plate girders. Some of the spans of the temporary structures were eliminated by installing Geosythetic Reinforced Earth System (GRES) walls. Reinforced concrete pedestals were installed on top of these GRES walls and the stringers supported by them. The bearings, removed from the original AHB, were repurposed for the temporary ramps.

The temporary ramp is supported by temporary steel towers on concrete foundations. The towers are braced laterally with other adjacent existing piers and substructures. The ramps were designed in accordance with AASHTO ASD. The designs were reviewed and approved by NYSDOT. This project won the 2014 Construction Achievement Project of the Year Award by ASCE Metropolitan Section and the ACEC NY’s Engineering Excellence Gold Award in the Structural Systems category.