PRINCETON STREET OVER QUINAPOXET RESERVOIR
Holden, Massachusetts
The Princeton Street Bridge over the Quinapoxet Resevoir is a corrugated galvanized iron arch culvert and was originally constructed in 1936. In 2001, during the most recent inspection, the substructure of the bridge was determined to be failing and C&C was engaged to rehabilitate the existing bridge.
The proposed bridge was designed to resemble the existing
bridge, rehabilitating the existing stone wingwalls and providing a matching
stone masonry wall attached to the bridge parapet walls. All spalled areas on
the concrete abutments were to be repaired. On the iron arch where heavy amounts
of rusting occurred were to be repaired to near original constructed conditions.
of 2007.
The limited amount of right-of-way and the
very steep slope from roadway elevation to bottom of slope of the bridge posed a
few major challenges. Due to the topography in the area, water tends to drain
down from the reservoir and pool near one corner of the bridge. Originally, a
large drainage sluice and plunge pool was proposed to drain water away from the
bridge. To conform to MHD recommendations, C&C was keep all construction
within the right-of-way, a cemented stone masonry wall along with a modified
rock fill on either side of the retaining wall was designed. Also, the modified
rock fill was able to keep the draining storm water away from the wall.
A second challenge was to maintain a high level of safety
for the proposed guardrail. MHD standards would mean the proposed guardrail end
section would have to extend past the right of way. C&C proposed a Vermont
guardrail end section, a less conservative method but still within the AASHTO
standards and within MHD recommendations.
Client: Massachusetts Highway Department
