The Wekiva Parkway (SR 429) will connect to SR 417, completing the beltway around Central Florida, while helping to protect the natural resources surrounding the Wekiva River. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hired the Superior Construction design-build team to complete section six of eight sections total, which consists of nearly six miles of limited access toll road that is largely elevated along the existing SR 46 corridor. The design-build project includes 18 bridges, three of which are a key portion of the project — segmental bridges over the Wekiva River.
Project Fast Facts
Client: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Location: Seminole County, Florida
Work Performed: 18 bridges: three cast-in-place segmental box bridges, six conventional, and nine wildlife crossings; a parallel service road; new pavement construction; widening, milling and resurfacing; drainage system improvements; intelligent transportation system (ITS); signing and pavement markings; utility coordination; tolling infrastructure; landscape concept development; and extensive stakeholder coordination
Project Schedule: 5 years
Completion Date: Summer 2022
The Work
For the main channel, FDOT required a three-span continuous bridge consisting of segmental box girders. All construction activities and equipment were required to stay within the footprint of the proposed bridges. No trestles, falsework, or temporary supports were allowed in the river during construction. Superior developed a creative concept for construction, using a qualified team with unique segmental bridge construction experience and a strategic partnership with Finley Engineering for the bridge design.
Because of the limitations of space to set up a pre-cast yard, we used cast-in-place construction. Segmental construction requires post-tensioning (PT) systems, which need to be protected. Instead of grout, we used a flexible filler of microcrystalline wax to provide strand protection, enabling tendon strand replacement over time. For the conventional bridges, we used an overhang system that comes in 20-foot sections, which enabled faster deck pours. We also used a Tybot system, which uses lasers to make tie connections, further speeding up production.
The Result
Superior’s specialty equipment and qualified team enabled this design-build job’s success. Extensive planning and creative construction solutions sped up production, saving time and money. The flexible filler offers more durability and lifespan for the final structure, as strands can easily be replaced. And we promoted experienced, proven team members from within and added 200-plus staff, ensuring the right people were in the right place to manage this signature project for the State of Florida.