NJ Drivers To See Delays Due To Delaware Memorial Bridge Project

A new $6.2 million pilot project on the Delaware Memorial Bridge is expected to cause congestion and delays heading into New Jersey through October, according to officials.

J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, PA, will begin work on an Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) deck overlay project on the New Jersey-bound Span of Delaware Memorial Bridge in September, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced on Tuesday.

Work is expected to run for five weeks following Labor Day weekend. Two lanes will be closed to traffic throughout the overlay placement period, with an additional third lane shut down during the overnight hours, officials said.

A recent study uncovered accelerated deterioration of the New Jersey-bound span, which is in need of significant repairs. Officials said research has identified partial depth reconstruction utilizing UHPC as potentially the most effective solution, pending the outcome of the pilot project.

Chief Engineer David Hoppenjans said a full deck replacement is a significantly more expensive alternative, takes longer to construct, and is much more disruptive to traffic compared to a UHPC deck overlay.

“The bridge deck of the New Jersey-bound span is more than 50 years old and needs substantial repair and rehabilitation,” Hoppenjans said “This dedicated, small scale pilot project will give the Authority direct day-to-day experience in the implementation of a UHPC overlay project offering critical experience specific to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.”

He said the period between Labor Day and Columbus Day was identified is the best time to complete the project because of a combination of lower traffic and favorable weather conditions.

In September, the Delaware Memorial Bridge registers the fourth lowest traffic volumes in a calendar year, trailing January, February and March, officials said.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge has three types of bridge spans — girder, truss, and suspension spans — and this deck overlay pilot program will address each structural span type.

The project entails the removal of the old deck to a depth of 3.75”, repair of the reinforcing mat, and installation of a replacement overlay with UHPC.

A total of 500 feet, two lanes in width of the New Jersey bound span will be resurfaced using UHPC. This work also requires hydro (high pressure water) demolition to expose the top reinforcing mat.

The UHPC application has a lower initial and life cycle costs; a shorter, more flexible construction schedule; and prevents salt intrusion when compared to a full deck replacement program, officials said.

The final product will be stronger than the original deck, according to officials. The purpose of this UHPC pilot program is also to develop firsthand experience related to the design, solicitation, and construction of this unique kind of project.

The UHPC overlay pilot program will also provide insight into a number of Delaware Memorial Bridge-specific details — including the elimination of the centerline joint, the reaction of the existing concrete deck to hydro-demolition, the condition of the top reinforcing mat, actual replacement UHPC volume, and how much full depth repair is required.

Hoppenjans added that the testing and analysis of the completed pilot program that will assess the overlay performance will commence in the spring of 2021. Dependent on a review of the pilot program results, the DRBA tentatively plans to initiate a full deck overlay program using UHPC on the New Jersey bound span in three phases totaling nine months. The exact timing has not yet been determined. The total cost of the project is anticipated to exceed $50 million.