Major international bridge replacements can take 10 to 20 years to deliver. The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) pulled it off in less than a decade by working with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI).
The Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge Replacement earned first place on our list of the Top Bridge projects of 2024 because it increased safety and mobility for those crossing the St. John River between the U.S. and Canada.
MaineDOT had been worried about the aging structure. The 1920 through-truss bridge had vertical clearance limits that were affecting mobility and raising safety concerns.
Split into four phases, MaineDOT hired HNTB to design the project and contractor Reed and Reed, Inc. was tapped for construction.
“The guidance and support from the MaineDOT and their partners were crucial in making this project a success,” said Robert J. Driscoll, the vice president and interim northern New England office leader at HNTB.
MaineDOT chose contractor-in-design process for this project. Reserved for large, complex projects, this strategy helped team leaders identify schedule risks and make sure there was a smooth construction phase.
HNTB began preliminary design in August 2018 and completed the final design in December 2020. Reed and Reed began construction in 2021.
The design is unique because the bridge rests on five types of foundations, which are dictated by restricted site access, construction laydown and diverse geotechnical requirements. They include: spread footings on soil, H-pile supported foundations, drilled shafts, micropiles and spread footings on rock.
The project team used durable, sustainable materials to reduce frequent maintenance on the new structure.
The new bridge was constructed with 50 and 70 kilopound per square inch (ksi) steel plate girders. These were the strongest, most practical and economical materials due to the bridge’s 90-foot height above the river and longer diagonal alignment.
Other components on the new structure included a concrete deck, stainless-steel rebar, drilled shafts and piles. Long-lasting LED lights were added and significantly reduce the need for replacement.
Wider lanes and shoulders were added to the new bridge, making snowplowing easier and creating better drainage. The foundations are made with corrosion-resistant stainless-steel rebar.
The permanent steel casings around the pier columns are another unique design element. Typically, MaineDOT requires access to the concrete piers for inspections, but the DOT amended its specification when it realized the steel casings would save time by eliminating the need to erect and dismantle formwork. Plus, they would provide a protective barrier for the piers from ice flows.
Crews endured long winters with temperatures hovering between 5- and 21-degrees Fahrenheit. The St. John River iced over during the winter months. This caused the contractor to dismantle and remove all work trestles in mid-February to avoid ice buildup.
After the ice had been released by early May, the contractor reassembled the temporary trestles and anchored them back in the river.
Because this is an international bridge, the worksite had high security. All members of the project team and construction crew had to pass background checks and be credentialed. The project team also had to comply with U.S. and Canada wage, labor and tax laws.
Reed and Reed hired a Canadian subcontractor to secure all permitting, comply with all Canadian regulations and construct the Canadian side of the bridge.
The new six-span, four-girder bridge created greater mobility, increased safety and transportation equity. It opened on Aug. 1, 2024, and featured wider 12-foot travel lanes, 6-foot-wide shoulders and a raised 6-foot-wide sidewalk.
This eliminated the 20-mile traffic detour and improved the flow of goods and services across the St. John River. The new bridge is designed to serve the border communities for the next 100 years. The project shows that anything is possible when there is a thoughtful plan and collaboration among agencies, even if they are in neighboring countries.
Project: Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge Replacement
Location: Madawaska, Maine and Edmundston, New Brunswick, Can.
Owners: Maine Department of Transportation in conjunction with the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Designer: HNTB
Contractor: Reed and Reed, Inc.
Cost: $97.5 Million
Length: 2,087 Feet
