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The Queensboro Bridge will soon join the growing list of major New York bridge structures to be equipped with mageba expansion joints
Building on our experience of supplying expansion joint solutions for several of New York’s most spectacular bridge structures – including the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge and the new Tappan Zee Bridge, we are delighted to have now been given the opportunity to add another equally prestigious structure to this list: the Queensboro Bridge. The structure, officially titled the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, is a two-level double cantilever bridge over New York City’s East River that was completed in 1909. An ongoing major renovation of this critical structure includes the complete replacement of its upper deck, requiring the provision of new modular expansion joints at six axes. TENSA® MODULAR joints were selected for use, two at each axis, with up to eight individual movement gaps per joint to accommodate a maximum longitudinal movement of 24 inches (610 mm). As is often the case with heritage structures such as this, the task of designing and supplying replacement expansion joints for renovation work is not straightforward. In this case, the design of the expansion joints had to be substantially modified to suit the geometry of the bridge deck’s steelwork at each location – and to ensure flawless connections and avoid difficulties during installation on site, mageba is also supplying the connecting orthotropic deck panels. This special feature of the supply contract will also facilitate quick installation, minimizing impact on traffic.
The expansion joints and connecting deck panels will be fully assembled in mageba’s AISC-certified workshop in Pennsylvania before transporting to site. We are honoured, and grateful to New York City, to have been entrusted with the task of providing these key components for another of the city’s cherished landmarks.
Owner: New York City Department of Transportation
Designer: Thornton Tomasetti
Contractor: American Bridge