Curry Road – Schenectady, NY

Project Details

• Owner: New York State Department of Transportation
• Contractor: Bette & Cring, LLC
• Engineer: NYSDOT Region 1
• Total Precast Units: 24 prefabricated bridge units

Project Overview

To replace the aging 1960s-era Curry Road Bridge over I-890, the New York State Department of Transportation turned to Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) and Fort Miller’s precast concrete bridge technology. This high-priority infrastructure upgrade required a fast, efficient approach that minimized disruption to commuters and local traffic. 

By utilizing modular construction methods, the project team delivered a durable, high-performance bridge structure with far less on-site impact and a drastically reduced construction timeline compared to conventional methods.

The result was a complete superstructure replacement using 24 precast bridge units, engineered and fabricated by Fort Miller, that allowed the new four-span bridge to be installed in a single weekend and reopened to traffic in just 16 days.

Fort Miller’s role was central to the Curry Road Bridge success story. Their team engineered and fabricated 24 full-depth precast bridge units—each one an integrated section of steel girders and concrete deck. Produced in a controlled facility, these units were built with exacting tolerances to ensure seamless alignment once installed in the field.

Each unit was custom-designed to include built-in features such as:

• Fascia curb with integrated guide rail anchorage
• Cast-in granite curb along the outer edges
• Precision-matched fascia lines and curb reveals

This level of prefabrication minimized on-site labor and enabled a “drop-in” installation approach. Fort Miller’s attention to dimensional accuracy ensured that once the units arrived on site, they fit together like puzzle pieces, eliminating the need for field adjustments and expediting final assembly.

Fort Miller ensured unmatched quality control, material consistency, and tight engineering tolerances by fabricating the entire superstructure off-site. Every unit arrived on-site ready for immediate installation, accelerating the pace of construction and reducing error margins during assembly.

Installation Timeline Highlights:

• Post-installation work: Asphalt overlay, approach tie-ins, and final safety features were completed in the following days.
• Pre-fabrication phase: Completed while the original bridge was still in use, with no disruption to traffic.
• Weekend bridge swap: Full demolition and installation took place over a single weekend, with cranes lifting each modular span into place during overnight hours.
• Minimal interruption: Traffic below remained open throughout the process, with brief rolling closures only during unit placements.

Impact and Innovation:

Thanks to ABC methods and Fort Miller’s precast innovation, the Curry Road Bridge was replaced eight days ahead of the already aggressive 24-day schedule. This avoided months of potential disruption for drivers, commuters, and businesses in the area, as would be expected with traditional cast-in-place techniques.

Additionally, with fewer crews exposed to active traffic zones and less time spent working roadside, the project enhanced safety for workers and motorists alike. Precasting also reduced on-site waste by consolidating production in a controlled plant environment.

The Curry Road Bridge stands as a model for modern infrastructure delivery in New York State. It demonstrates how ABC and precast concrete bridge units can work in concert to achieve ambitious timelines without compromising safety, durability, or long-term performance.