ASCE Met Section Spring Seminar - Session 2: Queensboro Bridge

Location: Thornton Tomasetti Office (120 Broadway)

Date and Time: Tuesday, May 06 - 7:00PM

Speaker: Christopher Mauch, P.E.

Presentation Title: Queensboro Bridge Upper Level Roadway Replacement

Abstract: The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, a historic 3,725-foot-long double-level cantilever truss bridge connecting Midtown Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens, has been a vital transportation link since its opening in 1909. Known for its unique bi-level steel cantilever truss design, the bridge spans the East River and Roosevelt Island with a 984-foot East Channel span and a 1,182-foot West Channel span. Designated a New York City Landmark and an ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the bridge continues to carry nine lanes of vehicular traffic and a pedestrian/bicycle path, accommodating heavy daily usage.

Under the bid cost of $275 million for Contract No.10, the ongoing rehabilitation focuses on replacing the aging upper roadway with a lighter, more durable steel orthotropic deck system. Enhanced with a methacrylate polymer slurry overlay, this system replaces the existing concrete-filled steel grid deck, extending the service life by 50-75 years and improving performance under high daily traffic volumes for ADT 180,000. The project also includes miscellaneous structural steel rehabilitation, barrier replacements, modular expansion joint replacements, and dry fire standpipe system upgrades to enhance fire suppression capabilities.

The project employs a six-stage construction plan to address the challenges of maintaining traffic flow on this bridge. Four primary stages cover lane-specific deck replacement, while two crossover stages ensure traffic access to the Manhattan and Queens approaches. With one lane closed continuously and two-lane closures permitted only during off-peak hours for the bridge's upper roadway construction, the approach minimizes disruptions while maintaining operational efficiency.

This seminar will explore the technical innovations, materials, and construction methodologies used to meet the demands of this complex rehabilitation project. Attendees will gain a detailed understanding of the strategies employed to preserve this iconic infrastructure's historic integrity while enhancing its functionality and longevity in a modern urban context.