Joseph S. Logan, Jr., P.E. Structures Manager

Fisher Associates, P.E., L.S., P.C. 135 Calkins Road

Rochester, NY 14623 (585) 334-1310

Synopsis:

The Covington Road Bridge over the Genesee and Wyoming Railroad was constructed in 1903 and is located in the Town of Leicester, Livingston County. The bridge replacement project detailed in this presentation is sponsored by Livingston County, the owner of the bridge, who also owns and maintains the structure. During project scoping, the bridge was re-designated as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places due to both the uniqueness of the structural iron composition in a non-standardized thru-girder superstructure and the designer of the bridge (A. Lincoln Bush). This presentation will describe the various options investigated and will focus on the process leading to selection of a replacement alternative.

About the Presenter:

Joseph Logan graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1979 and a Master's Degree in Structural Engineering in 1980 from Cornell University. After working on bridge and building design projects for Parsons Brinckerhoff for two years in McLean, Virginia, and working for Erdman Anthony and Associates in Rochester, New York for 18 years, he joined Fisher Associates in 1999. He is a licensed professional engineer in New York and Massachusetts, and is currently the Structures Department Manager for the firm. Although he is chiefly in charge of bridge design projects, he has designed many other types of structures including subway tunnels for the Pittsburgh and Buffalo light rail projects, tunnels and shafts for the Rochester CSOAP project, and numerous building projects. He is a member of ASCE and Western New York Chapter of ABCD where he was president from 1994-1995 and 2002-2003.

SESSION 2.2.3

Replacement of Covington Road Bridge over the G&W Railroad

Covington Road over Genesee & Wyoming RR

G&

W R

RLeicester

Project Location

Project Location

Key Issues

Bridge Deficiencies

Highway Safety and Condition

Historic Listing

Bridge Deficiencies

Girder and Deck Deterioration

Bridge DeficienciesSubstructure

Deterioration

Bridge DeficienciesBridge Width, Alignment, Load Posting

Bridge Deficiencies

9’1”21’6

Horizontal Clearance

Span 1Span 2Span 3

Pier 1Pier 2Vertical Clearance – 19’-4”

Railroad Clearances

Highway Safety

Southeast Road Approach

• One-lane

• Poor sight distance• Poor pavement

Historic Designation

Designer of Record• A. Lincoln Bush – known designer.

Bridge OriginAssembled structure in 1903 from three railroad

bridges on the Erie & Lackawanna Line in Hoboken, NJ.

Historic Designation

• Pre-standardized (pre-1909) plate girder design;• One of 8 remaining in NYS;• Its “iron construction demonstrates an important

development in the evolution of this bridge type”.

Bridge and Girder Type

• Center Span replaced in 1911 with girders from unknown source;

No effect on the historic designation.

Project ApproachDiscussions with NYSDOT Environmental

Assessment Bureau (EAB) during Scoping:

• Retain as 1 lane bridge;• Reconstruct as 2 lane bridge;• 1 lane bridge with coupled structure;• Replacement using girders as a façade;• Complete replacement and relocate to alternative

site/use;• Complete replacement and disposal with

documentation.

Project ApproachPrepare Structural Archaeological

Assessment Form (SAAF)Interim Discussions with SHPO yielded an order of

preference:

1. Retain as 1 lane bridge;

2. Reconstruct as 2 lane bridge;

3. Retain as 1 lane bridge with new coupled structure;

4. Replacement with new structure and use girders as a façade;

Project Approach

6. Complete replacement and disposal with documentation.

UNACCEPTABLE

5. Complete replacement and relocate to alternative site/use;

LAST RESORT

Preferred AlternativeComplete replacement with alternative useRelocation:

• Performed an agency web search for established trail groups;

* Received no immediate interest.

• Kristin Bennett from GTC assisted in supplying additional contacts.

RelocationAfter 2-3 weeks, SUCCESS!

Ron Abraham from NYSDEC Region 9

• Rails to trails project on the Genesee Valley Greenway in Allegany County.

• 8 potential bridge sites – 4 suitable for the spans, 3 with single span use and one with 3-span potential.

NYSDEC R9 GVG Project

PORTAGEVILLE

CUBA ALLEGANY COUNTY

Approval SequenceNYSDEC agreed to accept the beams from the

project.

• SHPO accepted the proposal;

• NEPA designation as Programmatic Exclusion with back-up;

• Prepared a 4(f) statement as condition of approval.

Approval Sequence• SHPO required a memorandum of agreement be

signed by the Owner, Region 4, FHWA, and SHPO.

Project approved by the DOT, SHPO, and FHWA

Project SolutionProposed Profile

Proposed PlanN

Existing Bridge

Proposed Bridge Elevation

Sheet Piling with Stub Abutments on Spread Footings

• Spreads load over 9 ft. Thick clay layer below track bed;

• Design similar to Livingston County standard sheet pile abutments.

Proposed Bridge Section

Construction

Structure Disposition

Lessons LearnedWork With SHPO!• Don’t be afraid to go for what is best for the site –

but go in with an open mind.

• Things will always take longer than you expect!

• Working through your Local Project Liaison = consistent communications.

• Back up your conclusions with facts and good documentation, e.g. conditions, load ratings, sound arguments.