Award of Merit, Highway/Bridge: NASA Causeway Bridge Replacement

NASA Causeway Bridge Replacement

Titusville, Fla.

Award of Merit

Submitted by Orion

Owner Florida Dept. of Transportation, District 5

Lead Design Firm Volkert

General Contractor Orion

Construction Inspection WSP USA

Twin 60-year-old drawbridges spanning the Indian River were replaced with high-span fixed bridges to support growing transportation demands, eliminate drawbridge-related delays and enhance safety and resilience along this vital corridor serving the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and commercial space operations.

The project required careful coordination with multiple agencies due to its proximity to launch facilities and sensitive environmental areas. A variance to FAA height restrictions allowed the team to use a larger crane for span placements, eliminating the need for pile splicing and reducing lift counts, which significantly improved both efficiency and jobsite safety.

The team also used jetting methods instead of predrilling for piles and designed seal slabs to facilitate dewatering without the need for traditional coffer cells. These innovations minimized underwater activity, reduced environmental impact and accelerated critical path tasks.

Orion’s marine and engineering teams collaborated closely with the Florida Dept. of Transportation, NASA and other project partners. Although not a design-build project, Orion’s engineering team played a key role by designing alternative maintenance of traffic plans and construction phasing strategies. This included adding temporary pavement and implementing strategic lane shifts to safely maintain traffic flow while accelerating access for construction activities.