Benicia-Martinez Bridge Retrofit winds down
At Benicia-Martinez, HBG Constructors crews are down to 50 people from a peak of about 220. This reflects 89 percent completion of the base contract to strengthen the 10 main spans of the bridge over the Carquinez Strait, which is one of the most heavily traveled in California. The massive seismic retrofit started in June 1998.
This summer, work is continuing on expansion joints and thickening of pier walls. Replacement of the seismic isolator bearings and retrofits of the spread footings are also still underway.
Expansion joint retrofitting is continuing at both ends of the main span. This work includes demolishing the existing expansion joints and an eight-foot-wide strip of the roadway to make room for the new joints.
These new joints will allow for up to four feet of bridge movement during an earthquake. Roadway work is occurring at night while the support structure is completed from under the deck during the day.
At pier 9, the last of the work on the waterway pier walls is underway. This wall was delayed by redesigns of the piling, and will likely be finished in September.