Collier County and HNTB complete Eleven Bridge Replacements project

Bridge bundling program provides mobility and safe infrastructure in rural community

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – HNTB joins Collier County in celebrating the completion of their Eleven Bridge Replacements project, a bridge bundling program that created safer, more resilient transportation infrastructure for local motorists. HNTB provided final and post design services for the project that was divided into four procurement packages across three corridors.

“The bridges that were included in this program are vital access points for commercial, agricultural and residential traffic in this community,” said Sadie Dalton, HNTB project manager. “Bundling the bridges by structural similarities created an expedited approach to designing the replacements, while dividing them into four procurement packages allowed for concurrent construction timelines. Through careful environmental planning and design, the project was executed in a manner that was least disruptive to the surrounding wildlife and ecosystem.”  

The bridges are located in the area east of Immokalee and State Road 29. Six bridges are on Immokalee Road, one on County Line Road and four on Oil Well Road. The original timber foundation bridges were built in the late 1940s and early 1950s and required replacement after years of repairs and increasing maintenance costs. Due to the proximity to the Big Cypress National Preserve, special environmental considerations were taken in account including extensive wildlife and species studies, restricted construction timing, wildlife fencing and dry pathways as well as creative construction staging to minimize wetland impacts.

“Creating safe and reliable transportation infrastructure is vitally important for Collier County,” said Collier County Commissioner William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5. McDaniel is the commissioner in the area where the Eleven Bridge Replacement project occurred. “HNTB’s expertise in bridge design helped us create a resilient solution that was completed with minimal disruptions to daily life and to the surrounding environment that is unique to our community,” McDaniel added.