Replacement of East Canal Road Bridge over Donner Brook

The East Canal Road Bridge over Donner Brook, originally constructed over 65 years ago, has long been a vital infrastructure component for the community. This cast-in-place three-sided bridge with an invert slab served as a crucial link for residents, commuters, and businesses. However, decades of wear and tear led to significant structural deficiencies, necessitating a complete replacement.

CHA designed the new bridge as a 24-foot clear span by 7 ½-foot clear rise 4-sided precast concrete box. To minimize disruption and inconvenience to the traveling public, the project followed a compressed schedule, allowing adequate time to complete a separate pavement rehabilitation project. All components of the new bridge were precast ahead of time, enabling a swift construction process. The existing superstructure and substructures were recycled, with concrete chunks broken down and used as stone fill in other projects.

Despite challenges such as unprecedented rainfall and unstable soil conditions, the project team successfully completed the bridge replacement within the 2024 construction season. The replacement project met the aggressive schedule and demonstrated a commitment to sustainable construction practices, minimizing disruption to local residents and businesses.