DuBois & King transportation planners and engineers studied alternatives to improve bicycle and pedestrian access and safety along US Route 302 in the Town of Berlin. The study area is seeing significant commercial and residential growth, and is lined with businesses, driveways, turn lanes, signs, a rail crossing, utilities, and traffic signals. The roadway cross-section varies from two to five lanes and is one of the most heavily traveled traffic corridors in central Vermont.

After reviewing a number of alternatives in collaboration with the Town of Berlin, VTrans, and the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, it was concluded that the implementation of a “road diet” to reduce the number and/or width of travel lanes (known as “right-sizing”) was the safest and most cost effective option. The addition of crosswalks, consolidating the wide driveway openings of area businesses, and the creation of bulb-outs and/or pedestrian refuge islands will further enhance the corridor. VTrans has endorsed the concept, which will be piloted during the 2015 summer construction season.

Project participants included the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Town of Berlin. Watch the video below for more information on how the Road Diet will work from VTrans’ Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager.

Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Greenfield Covered Bridge reopened after a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 13. After being removed from its abutments for 6 months and being closed since Tropical Storm Irene on August 28, 2011, the bridge once again is open to traffic. Tropical Storm Irene destroyed the east abutment and distorted the bridge superstructure, caused uneven settlement of the truss end bearings, and necessitated replacement of several of the main timber elements along with decking, floor beams, roofing, and siding.

The Town of Greenfield contracted with DuBois & King to oversee emergency repairs to the bridge and to complete the rehabilitation design. Sara Campbell, PE, Greenfield Town Engineer, led the 3-year-long project, as well as acquiring funding for the project. The $1.3M project is being paid for with federal (FEMA) and Town funding. E. T. & L. Corp. of Stow, Massachusetts, was the contractor.

The first task after the flood was to jack up and stabilize the bridge on the existing abutments to prevent further damage and to save it from another flood while the rehabilitation design work proceeded. Repairs were designed for the roof framing, upper and lower lateral bracing, timber trusses, board siding, floor beams, decking, and bearings. Workers temporarily relocated the bridge to the east bank, for replacement of the abutments and to allow greater access to the bridge for repairs. Both abutments were removed and replaced with concrete abutments and wing walls. The east abutment was raised 2 feet to enable greater capacity of the bridge to pass future floodwaters without damage.

The time-lapse video represents the 2-hour replacement of the Green River Covered Bridge.

See links below for news coverage.
CBS 3 Springfield
WWLP-22 News
ABC 40

A flood event, resulting from Tropical Storm Irene, severely scoured and settled the east abutment causing uneven settlement of the truss end bearings and racking and distortion of the bridge superstructure. Several of the main timber elements of the bridge were broken. The 93-foot-long, single-span bridge uses Howe truss framing and had a cantilevered sidewalk. The damaged bridge was closed to all traffic.

The Town of Greenfield contracted with DuBois & King of Bedford and Laconia, New Hampshire, an engineering firm with a specialty in covered bridges, to oversee emergency repairs to the bridge and to complete the rehabilitation design. Managing the project is Robert H. Durfee, P.E., a nationally recognized covered bridge expert and Vice President for the engineering firm.

The first task after the flood was to jack up and stabilize the bridge on the existing abutments to prevent further damage and to save it from another flood while the rehabilitation design work proceeded. Repairs were designed for the roof framing, upper and lower lateral bracing, timber trusses, board siding, and bearings. Both abutments are to be removed and replaced with concrete abutments and wing walls. The east abutment will be raised 2 feet to enable greater capacity of the bridge to pass future floodwaters without damage.

Before construction, workers temporarily moved the bridge to the east bank, for replacement of the abutments and to allow greater access to the bridge for repairs. The time-lapse video represents the 4-hour removal of the Green River Covered Bridge. Construction will proceed throughout the summer and the rehabilitated bridge is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2014.