The Frenchtown Road Bridge was recently honored with a 2007 Excellence in Construction Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors, Connecticut Chapter. The bridge was recognized for serving as a part of vital infrastructure, as well as a complex and geometric work of art.
Gannett Fleming, an international planning, design and construction management firm, performed design, engineering and construction phase services for the repair and rehabilitation of the Frenchtown Road Bridge. The historic twin-arch bridge was built in 1940 and carries Frenchtown Road over Rte. 15, Merritt Parkway, in Trumbull, Conn.
As part of the project, Gannett Fleming provided technical advice to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the contractor, Mohawk Northeast Inc., on ways to improve safety without compromising the bridge's historic design. Part of the rehabilitation effort focused on eliminating the danger of older cast stone falling on Merritt Parkway. The project also involved widening the sidewalk to improve pedestrian safety for local residents and a nearby school.
The project team used concrete formliners matching the existing cast stone pattern and color to preserve the bridge's original appearance, creating an aesthetically pleasing look and strengthening the bridge for continued functionality. Built on a fast-track schedule, the bridge rehabilitation was completed ahead of schedule.
