NAVFAC Washington oversaw the demolition of the earlier bridge, in-built 1932, which was structurally poor and topic to extra transit weight restrictions. NAVFAC Washington additionally oversaw the design and building of the brand new bridge, and the relocation of utility strains underground. Beforehand, the utility strains have been suspended below the outdated bridge. The brand new bridge helps all vehicular site visitors throughout Gambo Creek, each civilian and navy, in addition to major vary operations, safety, and hearth and rescue. The ultimate value of the venture was $13.9 million.
The brand new Gambo Creek bridge is 520 ft lengthy. It consists of 74 pre-stressed concrete piles and 28 metal abutment H-piles, every 85 ft lengthy. The development staff positioned roughly 3,000 cubic yards of concrete and employed carpenters, electricians, iron staff, concrete finishers, plumbers, welders, heavy gear and crane operators, pavers, engineers, venture managers, and environmental planners for over 38,500 manhours.
The venture was awarded in January 2020, and the development staff needed to cope with quite a few challenges when building started within the early levels of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff additionally skilled quite a few provide chain points, particularly concerning concrete, which each culminated in vital scheduling difficulties.
In response, building leaders accomplished two joint allow purposes, one for utilities and one for the bridge. This allowed for building and utility relocation actions to start whereas the bridge design was nonetheless below assessment. As soon as the bridge design was permitted, the development staff utilized a leapfrog method to demolish the outdated bridge whereas constructing the brand new one in collection behind it. To make up for much more time, the staff labored with Gina Panciera, building staff supervisor, and Lt. Cmdr. Rick Forney, services engineering and acquisition division director at NSF Dahlgren, to regulate work schedules to evenings and weekends.
Building schedules have been once more careworn in early 2022 by the herring spawning cycle in Gambo Creek, which started in Spring. Travis Wray and the NAVFAC environmental staff at NSF Dahlgren developed a plan to complete work earlier than the herring migrated into Gambo Creek to breed, which the development staff efficiently executed.
“The partnering was unbelievable on this venture. Partnering was inclusive of all of the staff members between NAVFAC, Naval Floor Warfare Middle, the prime contractor, designer of document, subcontractors, and number of environmental companies,” mentioned Walt Fowler, engineering technician. “Moreover, the designer of document took management within the efficient facilitation of government-to-government coordination involving a number of regulatory companies. With out the shut collaboration between all the staff, profitable completion would have been unlikely.”
As a consequence of profitable teamwork and ingenuity, the Gambo Creek bridge was completed three months forward of schedule.
In a speech in the course of the ribbon slicing ceremony, Fowler acknowledged Leslie Sherman, contract specialist, and Pat Schifflette, design supervisor, for all of the work they every put into the venture. He additionally acknowledged Mike Bohlmann, building supervisor, for his unbelievable efforts to assist get the bridge constructed early and on finances.
“One of many causes we have been capable of accomplish this venture early was due to the prime contractor,” mentioned Bohlmann. “The venture initially had sidewalks, however we have been capable of descope these sidewalks. We recouped a big amount of cash that might have been spent on design and building and we have been capable of end the bridge with out requesting any extra funds. I want it was my thought, however it was due to the partnering between the designers and the builders.”
Capt. Eric Hawn, NAVFAC Washington commanding officer, famous this bridge building is a first-rate instance of the Chief of Naval Operations’ “Get Actual, Get Higher” initiative.
“This venture demonstrates a tradition shift, the place we assess, right and innovate,” mentioned Capt. Hawn. “Clearly everybody concerned did all these issues and even earlier than the CNO’s ‘Get Actual, Get Higher’ marketing campaign started. I wish to thank everybody who utilized teamwork and partnering to resolve issues. I feel this bridge is gorgeous, it’s actually one thing to be happy with, and it may be a case examine in doing issues the best strategy to assist this base and the warfighters.”
The development contractor for this venture was C.E.R., Inc. and the designer of document was Whitney, Bailey Cox & Magnani, LLC.
Throughout the ceremony, the attendees shared a second of silence for John Baxter, previously a high quality management supervisor with subcontractor Kokosing Building Firm, Inc., who handed away in the course of the early levels of this venture.
