Jet Farm Bridge Project

, Jet Farm Bridge ProjectKEMRON was awarded a modification to the Bolles Canal contract under a South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) award for the restructuring of the canal as part of the global Everglades Restoration program. The modification was to replace a bridge across Bolles Canal on the property known as Jet Farm. The site is located in south Florida approximately 40 miles west of West Palm Beach. The project included demolishing the existing bridge, widening 200 feet of canal, relocating farmer-owned pump stations and piping, constructing concrete footings, wing walls and backs walls called endbents and placing a new bridge. The bridge selected by the SFWMD is a weathered steel bridge 90 feet long and 16 feet wide delivered to the site in 335 pieces. KEMRON assembled the bridge in the field. KEMRON staff visited the fabrication plant in Alabama and met with the design engineers to gain knowledge of the bridge components and assembly. KEMRON personnel were trained in the proper technique of bolt tensioning on a Skidmore-Wilhelm instrument rented for the project. Bolts of every Lot # and size were tested on site daily and recorded by an oversight engineer before utilized on the bridge. The main frame of the bridge is comprised of (4) I-Beams and numerous cross braces and guardrail posts. Concrete form pans are attached between the beams to support an 8 to 10-inch concrete deck which will be poured on the completed bridge. Each 90 foot I-Beam weighs approximately 25,000 lbs and was placed on the foundation endbents with a 200 ton crane. The correct placement of the beams was critical, anchor bolts in the concrete had to line up perfectly with holes in the steel beams. A crew on each side of the canal positioned the beams while communicating with 2-way radios. Crews worked from KEMRON’s deck boat in the water to bolt on the cross-braces connecting the beams together. Safety was of utmost importance due to the nature of this project. Hazards included crushing/pinching, lifting/rigging, crane operation, working over water, alligators and poisonous snakes. , Jet Farm Bridge Project