1998 ABCD Awards


The 1998 ABCD Bridge Awards were given at the annual Awards Meeting on 13 May 1999.  The following awards were presented:

Outstanding New Short Span Bridge
Replacement of Dual Bridges on I-79 over S.R. 19 south of the I-79/I-70 interchange.

Outstanding New Short Span Bridge Award Facility Owner: PennDOT District 12-0
Prime Consultant: Sucevic, Piccolomini, and Kuchar, Inc.
Bridge Designer: SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Contractor: A & L, Inc.


Bill Piper (A & L, left) and Ahmad Ahmadi (SAI) accepting awards

  • The 30 degree skew of the existing bridge was increased to 72 degrees to improve seismic performance.
  • Original 3-span structure was replaced with a single-span structure.
  • Bridge lengths: 134' and 160' (different due to curve on I-79 and Route 19).
  • Pile supported stub abutments set behind MSE walls (with MSE wingwalls).
  • 5-girder system, 62" deep web (welded plate girders)

Outstanding New Multi-Span Bridge
Replacement of S.R. 522 Bridge Over Juniata River (Between Huntington and Mifflin Counties)

Outstanding New Multi-Span Bridge Award Facility Owner: PennDOT District 9-0
Designer: Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
Contractor: New Enterprise (Stone & Lime) Inc.


Bill Wertz (PennDOT Dist. 9-0, left), Dennis Baughman (Project Manager, Michael Baker, center), and John Miller (General Bridge Superintendent, New Enterprise Stone & Lime) accepting awards.

  • Four-span Continuous Prestressed Concrete I-Beam Bridge
  • 568' Total Length
  • Maximum Span Length 146', Super I beams 90" deep.
  • Part of the Mount Union Bypass project.
  • Alignment resulted in a 63 degree skew with the river.
  • Foundation considerations included 42" diameter drilled caissons with long rock sockets at the north abutment.

Outstanding Rehabilitated Bridge
Rehabilitation of the Fayette Station Bridge Over New River
(Fayette County, West Virginia at the bottom of the New River Gorge) Outstanding Rehabilitated Bridge Award

Facility Owner: West Virginia Department of Transportation
Designer: GAI Consultants, Inc.
Contractor: Orders Construction Co.- St Albahs, West Virginia


John Weres of ABCD (left) presents the Outstanding Rehabilitated Bridge Award to Jerry Pitzer (GAI Project Manager)

  • Three simple spans - total length approximately 416 feet
  • Main Span 278 foot long Pennsylvania Petit through truss.
  • Originally constructed in 1889 and closed to traffic in 1977 due to deterioration.
  • Decision to rehabilitate the existing bridge to match the appearance and design of the original bridge.
  • Designed for H15 vehicle, and two new sidewalks were added.
  • Rounded head, high strength bolts were utilized to replicate the existing rivets.
  • Existing timber deck was replaced with pressure treated timber members.
  • Some substructure units were strengthen and reused, others were replaced utilizing tinted concrete and form liners.

1998-99 ABCD Scholarship Awards

At the annual Awards Meeting on 13 May 1999 the following scholarships were awarded:

Mr. David Smith, W.V. University
Mr. Steven Perman, U.P.- Johnstown
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