Owner: Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Contractor: Skanska McCourt JV
Design Engineer / Engineer of Record: HNTB/MassDOT
The Chelsea Viaduct is a significant north/south artery carrying US Rte. 1 through Chelsea, MA. Located just north of Boston, the project extends from The Maurice J. Tobin Memorial Bridge on the south end of the project to Orange Street at the north end. In 2018, MassDOT let the project and Skanska McCourt JV was selected as the lowest responsible bidder. The project consisted of full deck and girder replacement and pier retrofitting (“Sister Beams”) for the viaduct and ramps. Fort Miller provided 313 prefabricated bridge units (PBU’s) equating to approximately 136,000 SF of precast area and 198 concrete filled grid deck panels equating to approximately 27,200 SF of precast area. Casco Bay from Maine provided the structural steel girders for the PBU’s and L.B. Foster provided the steel grid deck for the precast panels. The PBU’s ranged from 20’ long up to 85’ long with the heaviest pick being approximately 150,000 pounds. There were cast-in-pace closure pours surrounding each of the PBU’s – at the longitudinal and transverse joints – tying the individual decks together. The fascia and median barrier were cast-in-place. The completed deck received a membrane waterproofing and an asphalt overlay. The installation of the PBU’s was executed by Atlantic Bridge and Engineering with crane services provided by Bay Crane. Coincidently, Bay Crane also provided delivery service of the PBU’s, which they performed flawlessly. The majority of the precast installation was done during off-peak/night-time hours. Working with Skanska McCourt JV and the entire Chelsea Viaduct Team proved to be an exceptional experience. We wish all those involved with the project best wishes as they bring the project to closure.
