STONE HARBOR – While the 96th Street Bridge remains closed to marine and vehicular traffic due to a crack in a beam; work is progressing to prepare trusses that will allow vehicles to traverse the span, according to County Engineer Dale Foster.
He told the Herald “Where the girder is cracked is below the deck in an enclosure where the counterweight rotates.” He also included a photograph to show the extent on the day it was discovered by a county crew working on the electrical system.
A series of trusses will be placed into position over top of the entire length of the movable span Nov. 8, and bracing of the truss to the bridge will occur over the next two days, Foster stated.
Once that is done, workers will install the jacks. When everything is ready, they will jack the cracked girder into its proper position. Once in position, repairs to the girder can begin.
Foster said it is hoped that the bridge will reopen to traffic by the end of next week, about Nov. 18.
In the interim, traffic is being detoured through Avalon or Grassy Sound bridges.
