This fall, the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors hosted its 22nd Annual Excellence in Construction Awards (EICA) Ceremony in Quincy, Massachusetts. The event honored members of the Massachusetts Chapter of ABC who performed work on outstanding construction projects completed between September 1, 2011 and August 1, 2014. The Cianbro/Middlesex Joint Venture Team received an Eagle Award and the sole Safety Award for the successful completion of the Brightman Street Bascule Bridge Replacement Project.
Located over the Taunton River, in the towns of Fall River and Somerset, the Brightman Street Bascule Bridge Replacement Project is the largest Massachusetts Department of Transportation project in its history and included construction of one of the largest bascule spans in the world. The five-year, nearly 215 million dollar heavy infrastructure project included construction of the approach span and bascule span pier and superstructure, control house, abutment and retaining walls, and installation of the electrical and mechanical equipment required for operation and control of the movable bridge. The new bridge provides 200 feet of horizontal and 60 feet of vertical clearance when closed and unlimited vertical clearance in the open position – a substantial increase compared to the old bridge. The movable span is 300 feet, trunnion-to-trunnion, and measures approximately 1,200 feet from shore to shore. The new bridge design is expected to reduce the number of openings by 90 percent.
The Cianbro/Middlesex Joint Venture Team self-performed more than 80 percent of the project and managed over 75 subcontractors who completed the balance of the specialty work. A daily crew of roughly 150 team members, who performed approximately 940,000 total work hours, experienced zero lost-time injuries.