# ANTHONY WAYNE BRIDGE REHABILITATION — HIGH-LEVEL SUSPENSION BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

- **Sector:** Transportation
- **Client:** Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
- **Location:** Toledo, OH
- **State:** Ohio
- **Status:** complete

## By the Numbers

- 1,252 LF Suspension Span Rehabilitation
- 8550 CY Structural Concrete
- 1,040,000 LBS Structural Steel
- 1,490,000 LBS Reinforcing Steel

## Challenge

Rehabilitating ODOT's only suspension bridge required replacing the bridge deck, performing extensive structural steel repairs, and reconstructing critical spans while maintaining the stability of the historic suspension system. The work demanded highly specialized construction sequencing, custom temporary support systems, and rapid turnaround of steel repairs, all within a fixed 570-day closure schedule.

## Solution

In order to comply with balanced suspension span loading requirements, E.S. Wagner deployed two specialized bridge crews, outfitted with the same complement of equipment, and ensured that each progressed away from the center of the suspension span at exactly the same rate while performing structural steel and deck replacement. Innovative engineering facilitated highly complex main suspension cable hold-down retrofits, high-capacity cable jacking, and demolition adjacent to critical suspension components. Meticulous phase-by- phase planning accelerated critical steel repair fabrication, allowing the team to safely complete these high-risk and sequential operations and reopen the bridge to traffic 26 days ahead of schedule.

## Project Scope

E.S. Wagner Company served as the prime contractor for the multi-year rehabilitation of the Anthony Wayne Bridge, ODOT's only remaining suspension bridge, spanning the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. Effectively three types of bridges in one structure, the project included complete replacement of the bridge deck across the 1,252-foot suspension spans, extensive structural steel repairs, rehabilitation of concrete substructures, demolition and replacement of two 200-foot truss spans, and complex upgrades to the bridge's main cable hold- down system. Work required the installation of a custom suspended work platform, placement of lightweight concrete decks, erection of over 1,000,000 pounds of new structural steel, and execution of highly specialized repairs while maintaining the structural integrity of the suspension system by perfectly balancing side-to-side loading and progress. Through complex engineering coordination, detailed construction sequencing, accelerated structural steel repair identification and fabrication, and careful scheduling and resource allocation that all but eliminated overtime on this labor-intensive project, E.S. Wagner completed the rehabilitation and reopened the bridge to traffic, utilizing only 544 of the allotted 570-day close period.