Girder Falls at Goethals Bridge Site
Construction on the Goethals Bridge replacement has been placed on hold after a large girder fell 50 feet from the top of a pair of columns earlier this month in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The 220,000-lb., 170 ft long support beam caused minor damage to equipment below, the Port Authority announced in a prepared statement. There were no injuries or travel delays due to the accident.
The girder was the first of an expected 397 to be used to link support columns for the bridge, which will replace the original 87-year-old Goethals Bridge. The $1.5 billion dollar project broke ground in May 2014, and was projected to complete its first phase in January of 2017.
The bridge’s completion date is now under review, according to Neal Buccino, Senior Public Information Office for the Port Authority, as the Port Authority and project developer NYNJ Link determine when they will be able to continue construction.
“The incident… is under forensic engineering examination by the project developer, NYNJ Link, and overseen by the Port Authority,” said Buccino. “The installation of girders at the construction site is on hold. The Port Authority is currently reviewing next steps with the developer and construction contractor.”
Buccino went on to say that the damaged girder would not be reused but declined to comment further.
