Contractor Ahead of Schedule On Biloxi Bay Bridge Erection
The contractor for the new, $338 million U.S. Hwy. 90 bridge from Biloxi to Ocean Springs, Miss., placed the fifth and final girder on the main navigational channel span May 2. With that challenge out of the way and 35% of the decking already completed on the northern span of the east-west bridge, it seems the contractor is well ahead of schedule to meet the November 13 milestone to open two lanes of traffic and win a $5-million early completion bonus. “By the end of June, they will have 85% of the milestone decks in place,” says Kelly Castleberry, project manager for the Mississippi Dept. of Transportation. “You would almost be able to drive across it, but not quite.”
The contractor is not exercising bragging rights until the deadline is past. “Our opening date is November 13,” says Steve Underwood, project manager for GC Constructors, a joint venture of Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City, Traylor Bros. Inc. of Evansville, Ind., and Kiewit Southern Co. of Peachtree, Ga. MDOT issued a notice to proceed June 2006 on the fast-paced, design-build project to restore a vital artery knocked out by Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge. The time frame has definitely been the biggest challenge on the project, Underwood says. However, GC had the advantage of access to equipment and manpower resources from the three partners when both were in scarce supply for others in the aftermath of the hurricane. “All the equipment on the job, with the exception of a few barges, is the property of GC Constructors,” Underwood says. The contractor has about seven boats and 20 cranes on the job, including the 4100 ringer used to place the navigational channel girders, which weigh up to 105 tons, Underwood says.