FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) — Construction crews in Fort Wayne continue their progress with the Van Buren Street Bridge upgrade project as they set new beams down Tuesday.
The city says the Van Buren Street Bridge has been closed since Jan. 11 for "super structure replacement of the bridge and scour protection."
The bridge was originally built in 1934 and reconstructed in 1994.
It has a current load limit of 14 tons, giving it a rating of 5 out of 10.
This weight limit cuts down on the amount of commercial traffic that can cross to get downtown and out.
City Engineer Patrick Zaharako says the existing pre-stressed concrete box beams were cracking, and the improvement project was necessary to prevent a future full closure of the river crossing from further deterioration of the support beams.
Installing the beams is a three-day process, according to Zaharako and it will wrap up on Wednesday.
The $2 million project is expected to be complete in August.
You can see more pictures below.
City Engineer, Patrick Zaharako, says the $2 million project will replace the old superstructure which limited the weight capacity of vehicles that could cross. pic.twitter.com/IUeqZQGtQT
— Jake Thomas (@JakeTTweets) February 23, 2021
The bridge completion is expected to be done in August and will include wider sidewalks, improved lighting, no weight restrictions for larger vehicles (semis and garbage trucks) and an overall better view along the river it sits above. pic.twitter.com/eyL2LKbOv6
— Jake Thomas (@JakeTTweets) February 23, 2021
WATCH: Construction crews add updated concrete beams to Van Buren Street Bridge in latest step@FOX55FortWayne https://t.co/UDKHw9xfgH pic.twitter.com/LZujQ5dPf7
— Jake Thomas (@JakeTTweets) February 23, 2021
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