MacArthur Bridge Rehabilitation

Alternate Construction Staging Accelerates Bridge Opening to Holiday Travelers

Built in 1923, the Douglas A. MacArthur Bridge that links the City of Detroit to Belle Isle is a unique concrete cantilever design. When the State of Michigan leased Belle Isle from Detroit, it became responsible for the bridge’s infrastructure maintenance. Due to the bridge’s size, complexity and importance, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) collaborated with OHM Advisors to develop an infrastructure construction project schedule to preserve the structure’s condition.

Our team provided important construction engineering services throughout the project, which focused on repairs to the concrete bridge deck and sidewalk surfaces, expansion joint replacement, approach pavement replacement, and deck and sidewalk epoxy overlay application to protect the concrete’s integrity. We also oversaw paving improvements at the Detroit Boat Clubhouse, which included parking lot drainage enhancements, HMA repaving and striping.

Importantly, our team worked with the project contractor to allow an alternate construction staging to be used on the bridge. By changing the staging, the contractor was able to start work on the project earlier in the season and avoided placement of temporary HMA on approaches, which would have been required to support the original staging. As a result, construction finished in time for the team to open the entire bridge to pedestrian and vehicle traffic to Belle Isle for the busy Memorial Day weekend and the subsequent Detroit Grand Prix.

Project Highlights: bridge, DOT, construction engineering, construction staking, material testing, project engineering, office technician, MDOT policies & procedures