Acrow provides temporary detour structure during Iowa bridge replacement

Parsippany, N.J. — Acrow Bridge, an international bridge engineering and supply company, designed and provided a temporary bridge for use as a detour during the replacement of an obsolete structure on Interstate 34 in Chariton, Iowa.

Interstate 34 is an east-west highway that runs from the western outskirts of Chicago to Granby, Colorado. In Iowa, the route is a major arterial surface road across the southern part of the state. The existing structure had extensive cracking of the reinforced concrete deck, railing and substructure, and the width of 28 feet did not provide the level of service required by the Iowa DOT for this busy section of the interstate.

Acrow’s detour structure was selected to lessen the impact to traffic in the area and to provide a safer work zone by separating traffic from construction activity. Work zone accidents and fatalities continue to be an increasing problem, and the use of detour or bypass bridging provides enhanced safety for both workers and the motoring public.  The Acrow bridge, rented to contractor Jensen Construction, is 200 feet long by 30 feet wide and accommodates two lanes of traffic.

“Using a rental structure allows for a fixed dollar-amount to be allocated to the detour bridge,” said Bill Killeen, President and CEO of Acrow Bridge. “The rental market has gained a strong foothold in the highway construction industry for its obvious safety benefits and because it can help ensure the project stays on or ahead of schedule, important for both contractors and state DOTs.”

The bridge was erected in May 2017 and it is expected it will be in place until October 2017.