The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $108.7 million to advance the Johnson River and Gerstel River Bundled Bridge Replacement Project in Alaska. Construction on the $92 million Johnson River Bridge will begin in 2027, followed by the $127.3 million Gerstle River Bridge in 2029.
The Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) has determined both bridges have reached the end of their useful life cycle. Currently, they’re in poor condition and no longer comply with modern standards for accommodating roadway traffic. With freight and transit being impeded by insufficient bridge design, the department must replace both bridges to keep the corridor open and functioning as intended.
Plans for the Gerstle River Bridge will include a 13-span concrete decked bulb-tee girder bridge. The total dimensions range to 1,885-feet long and 43-feet wide. As part of the project, AKDOT will widen and realign the highway and resurface pavement and striping.
Additional work will primarily target drainage infrastructure improvements. This will include ditching and grading and replacing damaged for undersized culverts. The department will also install new culverts, replace signs and guardrail, clear vegetation, relocate utilities and acquire right-of-way on the bridge’s north side.
The Johnson River Bridge replacement project will include similar work to the Gerstle Bridge. AKDOT will build an eight-span concrete decked bulb-tee girder bridge on the same site as the current structure. Once completed, the bridge will be around 1,160-feet long and 43-feet wide.
Plans include widening the embankment and realigning the highway. The project vision calls for resurfacing pavement and striping and improving drainage infrastructure through ditching and grading and replacing damaged or undersized culverts. In addition, the department will install culverts, replace signs and guardrail, clear vegetation, relocate utilities and acquire right-of-way on the north-east side of the bridge.
Photo by Sergei Starostin from Pexels
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