MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BRIDGE — MULTI-USE PATH – CITY OF TOLEDO
Sector
Transportation
Client
City of Toledo Department of Transportation Division of Engineering and Construction Management
Location
Toledo, OH
State
Ohio
Status
Complete
By the Numbers
Metrics
5,400 CFT
Concrete Hand Demolition
475K LBS
Counterweight Steel Hand Placed During Construction & Final Balancing
1,100 CY
Reinforced Concrete (Regular Weight)
70 CY
Reinforced Concrete (Light Weight)
30 CY
Structural Concrete (Heavy Weight)
280K LBS
Counterweight Steel Hand Removed & Staged During Construction
Challenge
Reconstruction of a 1,200-foot hybrid bridge with a widened multi-use path required innovative construction solutions, particularly for the 250-foot movable bascule span. A compressed winter schedule demanded that the bascule span remain fully operational throughout demolition and reconstruction, requiring continuous structural balancing. Additional challenges included demolishing and reconstructing oversized reinforced concrete gate arm overhangs on historic concrete arch spans, while accommodating complex geometry, aging structures, and restrictions against in-water shoring.
Solution
To maintain operation of the movable bascule span during a compressed winter schedule, ESW developed a carefully staged demolition and reconstruction plan that relied on continuous structural balancing using counterweight adjustments and a custom access/debris platform over the river. For the reinforced concrete gate arm overhangs, ESW designed an innovative cantilevered counterweight shoring system that enabled construction of the oversized suspended overhangs without in-water supports while preserving the bridge’s historic architectural character. The work required extensive structural engineering and logistical coordination throughout construction.
Project Scope
E.S. Wagner Company completed the pedestrian infrastructure upgrade for the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge spanning the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The primary objective of the project was to transform the existing sidewalk into a multi-use path across the entire 1,200-foot bridge, connecting East Toledo to key waterfront parks, while significantly improving pedestrian safety and accessibility. Key features include a widened pedestrian walkway increased from 8 to 12 feet, combination concrete and steel traffic barrier, and reinforced concrete cantilever platforms to house the traffic gate arms that were previously located in the sidewalk.
On the Ground
Project Gallery
Final photography, captions, and any video to be supplied by ESW per project.
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