Coastline Drive & Liberty Street Bridge Replacement
The Client
In this high-profile riverfront improvement, the City of Jacksonville wanted to connect the Riverwalk to the Jacksonville Sports Complex. Superior Construction was hired as the design-build contractor of the project, which extended Coastline Drive and Liberty Street over the St. Johns River while replacing a deteriorating existing structure. This area is the narrowest part of the river, which means the water velocity had eroded what was essentially a 50-year-old quay built atop pilings in the river, to the point that parts of the structure had collapsed into the river.
Project Fast Facts
Client: City of Jacksonville
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Work Performed: The demolition of four elevated structures, reconstructing Coastline Drive and Liberty Street over the St. Johns River, salvaging debris from two superstructure collapses, and installing architectural finishes on the Riverwalk in downtown Jacksonville.
Project Schedule: Four years and two months
The Work
The existing structures were defective. Multiple parts of the Liberty Street structure had collapsed and had to be salvaged from under ten feet of mud. During the Coastline Drive demolition, a deteriorated fascia cap collapsed, resulting in an additional 500 tons of concrete that had to be removed from the bottom of the river by divers, using a wire saw to cut the reinforced concrete into manageable pieces. In addition, the area was a former dumping area from the 1901 Jacksonville fire — making the subsurface unpredictable. Fortunately, as this was a design-build project, Superior was able to adjust and adapt. Designs were continually modified for engineering, labor, and equipment in order to locate adequate subsurface areas for piles and load bearing.
Superior completed the work from barges on the water to minimize the impact on the urban environment and keep construction vehicles and equipment off of the adjacent roadways. Our marine fleet, including crane barges, deck barges, and a tug boat, were used to access the work areas and move equipment and materials on the St. Johns River. Every tugboat trip had to be carefully planned, as it took four hours to get from the worksite to the pier. Engineers constantly completed weight and buoyancy calculations for the floating cranes and equipment to keep the site safe and prevent the equipment, material, or the entire barge from rolling into the river. Crews and divers also battled the river flow, which could reach up to eight knots at this constricted point in the river. The dynamic environment meant prioritizing safety was essential.
The Result
Superior was able to adapt to the changing site conditions, constantly consulting with the engineers and modifying the location of the originally planned piles to achieve a safe and effective structure. Even with all the challenges and complications, the project was completed within the contracted timeframe. The riverwalk in this area is now safe and beautiful, with a modern streetscape design that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors. In conjunction with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Superior preserved and refurbished memorials built commemorating the Great Fire of 1901 and the Gate River Run.
Project Awards
Best in Construction Award, Florida, 2021, Transportation Builders’ Association