ALDOT 5920 Bridge Project
Birmingham Alabama is a hub of business, finance, and industry. Railroad cars and freight trucks carry exports that range from construction materials such as steel and aggregate to consumer items such as soft drinks and food products. The I-59/20 junction in the Birmingham Central Business District (CBD) is one of the most traveled junctions in Alabama as it is used both by local industry as well as shippers from Tuscaloosa on the western side and Atlanta towards the east.
The original bridges and elevated ramps in the junction were constructed in the 1960s. They were designed to last for 30 years and expected to carry up to 80,000 vehicles daily. When the project began in January of 2019, the bridges had been standing for nearly 60 years and provided service to over 165,000 travelers every day. These bridges were showing signs of age in terms of both structural damages and traffic congestion earning the colloquial name “The Malfunction Junction.” It was clear that a fix was needed but a project that involves shutting down the busiest interstate highway in the region requires extensive planning before breaking ground.
Proposed solutions ranged from complete relocation of the highway to simply re-decking the damaged areas. One solution was to demolish and rebuild the elevated junctions and ramps to provide more durability and increase the capacity of the roadways. Of the solutions proposed, demolition and reconstruction of the junction was the solution chosen as it would require the shortest highway closure while offering long term improvements to the roadways such as wider shoulders to allow disabled vehicles to be quickly removed from the bridges. In addition, the changes would fit within the budget required and could alleviate congestion in multiple areas. The total scope of the work also involved a redesign of the route interchange with I-59/20 and Red Mountain Expressway including an auxiliary lane to reduce congestion. The CBD Bridge Project totaled over $750 million and would become the largest highway project in Alabama history.
Johnson Bros. Corporation, a subsidiary of Southland Holdings, and Granite Construction were both used throughout the project. On highway projects, heavy equipment, concrete mixers, and other construction vehicles are frequently entering and leaving the job site. A trackout system is needed to contain contaminated sediment and debris as the project continues. In addition, highway projects often span a large distance involving multiple entrances for each bridge constructed. In each phase, a new entrance is deployed and at the completion of the project, the aggregate is removed.
FODS reusable trackout entrance was employed during the construction of these bridges to provide a stabilized construction entrance. FODS mats are able to be installed in as little as 20 minutes and are easily transported to the next location. The rapid deployment of FODS trackout control mats can reduce the time spent installing a stabilized construction entrance which is realized on each entrance. Highway projects can require upwards of 50 entrances, so FODS reusable construction entrances are well suited to address the needs of highway contractors. With an expected service life of over ten years, the mats can provide a clean exit for all types of vehicles.
The major phase of the project involving the I-59/20 junction was completed in record time a full two months earlier than projected. The residents and businesses, who had been extending office hours and allowing flexible working schedules for employees, were happy to return to a regular schedule. The highway system in the Central Business District of Birmingham Alabama is now prepared for future growth and development.
FODS is proud to provide mats to contractors across the country to allow rapid deployment of stabilized construction entrances. Highway contractors save money and reduce the risk of aggregate entering roadways by choosing FODS rockless construction entrance as their construction entrance.
ABOUT FODS, LLC.
Based in Englewood Colorado, FODS Trackout Control System replaces ineffective and costly traditional rock stabilized construction entrances, saving you valuable time and money. Our proprietary mat design works to effectively remove mud and sediment from your vehicle tires without damaging the tire or the ground’s surface. We provide the only durable, reusable, and environmentally friendly trackout control system currently available on the market. FODS Trackout Control Mats are 100% Made in the USA and are reusable and recyclable.