Frew Mill Road was a challenging site with steep grades and winding curves.  The bridge traversed a beautiful vista including Slippery Rock Creek but was nearly 80 years old and only provided one travel lane.  The project goals were to create an aesthetically pleasing, safe, and low maintenance structure that preserved the character of the project site.  The one lane structure and curved approaches were modified to accommodate two lanes and greater sight distances, creating a safer route for travelers.  The existing truss bridge was removed, and a new steel girder superstructure was built to rest above the existing abutments, providing the least archaeological disturbance to the area and preserving the scenic beauty of the site. 

Project Highlights:

• Replacement structure was a 135’ span steel girder superstructure supported on concrete stub abutments on drilled caissons.
• The roadway profile was raised approximately five feet to allow the new superstructure to span over the existing abutments.
• In order to minimize future maintenance costs, the welded steel plate girders and crossframes were metalized for protection from the moist nature of the location.
• Aesthetic formliners were used on the concrete of the new abutments, wingwalls, barriers and slopewalls to mimic the existing natural setting.