Michigan Avenue Bridge Reopens as the Gateway to Brookley Aeroplex

Dec 28th, 2012

The Bridge Replacement on Michigan Avenue at the CSX Railroad in Mobile reopened on Friday, December 28, 2012.

The complicated $3.7 million federally-funded stimulus project was constructed by L&A Contracting Company out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The existing bridge was constructed in 1941 with a weight restriction of a maximum load of 15 tons.

The construction of the new bridge began work on September 1, 2010. The scope of work on the project included removing the existing bridge, installing deep drilled shaft foundations, construction of retaining walls, construction of the new bridge, roadway lighting, installation of industrial fence, installation of guardrail and sidewalk and the reconstruction of the bridge approaches. The challenging construction aspects included the construction of the deep foundations and the center bridge pier while maintaining rail traffic which averaged 10 trains per day.

The estimated daily traffic count on the bridge is 13,500. The bridge is a major transportation artery into Brookley Aeroplex, the new site for a Airbus assembly $100 million plant.