JUNE 2021CONSTRUCTIONBUSINESSREVIEW.COM9rehabilitation, designers used the opportunity to upgrade the bridge instead of simply replacing it.The new bridge is actually being constructed as two separate parallel bridges. The first was built adjacent to the old bridge and carried all of the traffic while the demolition of the old bridge and construction of the second occurred. Each new span carries three traffic lanes with generous shoulders and a 10-foot multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. Shaded observation points along the path provide opportunities to rest and enjoy panoramic views of Pensacola Bay. Recreational facilities on both shores of Pensacola Bay will feature boat launches, picnic areas, and free parking. It is also 15-feet taller than the old span to allow for increased marine clearance. The new bridge will improve safety, solve the traffic congestion problem, decrease maintenance costs, and create a valuable community amenity.Harry Nice Bridge: Other communities without Florida type weather find different solutions to fit their unique needs. The Harry W. Nice/Thomas "Mac" Middleton Bridge is a vital link that spans the Potomac River between Newburg in Charles County, Maryland and Dahlgren in King George County, Virginia. It was built with just one lane in each direction in 1940. Last year, a contract was approved to replace the old bridge with a new four-lane bridge that includes several safety enhancements for bicyclists, including bicycle-friendly roadway joints and intelligent transportation system tools such as lighting and signage to notify drivers of nearby cyclists. The new bridge will also have higher clearance to accommodate larger Panamax ships beneath it.I-4 UltimateThe I-4 Ultimate project in Florida is the 21-mile complete makeover of Interstate 4 (I-4) - from Universal Studios, through downtown Orlando and northward -and includes reconstructing 15 major interchanges and a staggering 140 bridges. The project replaces a 1960's era interstate that is inadequate for the current traffic demands of this crucial trans-Florida gateway between Tampa and Daytona Beach. In May, two milestone ramp structures that serve the busiest portion of the project, were complete. The massive ramps that connect Interstate 4 (I-4) and S.R. 408 provide better and safer connectivity and improve the commutes for Central Florida drivers and those who visit or pass through.In 2017, the project received the prestigious Envision® Platinum certificationfrom the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) for ongoing programs to minimize environmental impacts, including relocating protected wildlife, using efficient machinery and recycling up to 99 percent of the concrete and steel removed from roads and bridges. Created in 2012 through collaboration between ISI and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, the Envision® system rates the impact of sustainable infrastructure projects as a whole, providing a consistent, consensus-based framework for assessing performance goals. These efforts also serve as a training ground in sustainability best-practices for the thousands of construction workers and firms involved the project.Quality materials and innovative engineering combine to give this project's bridges a 75-year service life built to with stand the demands of commuter traffic, weather, and hurricanes. Remarkably, this is done while simultaneously adhering to some of the most exacting infrastructure sustainability and resilience standards in the world. Since 2016, Skanska has committed to pursue Envision®certification for every project in its civil portfolio. In addition, planning for greater bridge capacity reduces emissions from idling traffic and saves drivers millions of hours in commuting time.Bridges are more than just connectors that allow vehicles to get from point A to point B. They define communities by forging associations across boundaries and inspiring collective reflection on shared priorities and needs. Bridge reconstruction opens the possibility of creating structures that express these priorities in monumental ways, often serving as iconic and artistic structures tha thelp communities come together in support of common economic, developmental, and environmental goals. Bridges today are designed for aprojected service life that takes intoaccount the local conditions and intensityof use
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