ATHENS — Contractors installed the last set of bridge girders on the Alabama Highway 304/Huntsville Brownsferry Road widening project Friday in Limestone County.
The $13.3 million Rebuild Alabama project is transforming more than a mile of the former two-lane county road between U.S. 31 and I-65 into a five-lane state route. The project includes construction of two bridges at Swan Creek and a four-barrel bridge culvert at Old Schoolhouse Branch.
Girders installed
All girders – large beams to support the bridge deck — are now in place on both bridges. Cranes lifted and set the last six concrete girders on the relief bridge east of Swan Creek on Friday.
Sequence of construction
The south (future eastbound) half of the roadway, including half of each bridge or culvert, was substantially completed and opened to two-way traffic last fall. The old road was then closed, and contractors have since demolished the old pavement and bridges. They are now in the process of constructing the roadbed and bridges for the north (future westbound) half of the roadway.
Completion of the project is anticipated by next spring.
The overpass on Alabama 304 at I-65 Exit 347 was widened in an earlier, $2.8 million project.
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