PITTSBURGH, Sept. 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, consulting, planning, technical and professional services, will play a key role in rehabilitating a critical traffic artery in Pennsylvania’s capital region. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) selected the company for a $5-million engineering and design project focused on the western spans of the Market Street Bridge. The contract extends Michael Baker’s role as one of PennDOT’s leading structural design and inspection firms in Pennsylvania’s capital region.
“The Market Street Bridge is a vital part of Harrisburg’s history, and it will play a key role in the region’s ongoing prosperity as the state’s seat of government and a place of commerce,” said Kurt Bergman, CEO of Michael Baker International. “Michael Baker International’s full continuum of innovative solutions, our local focus and our in-depth knowledge of the bridges in the area make us the optimal choice to lead this important project.”
More than 12,000 vehicles rely on the Market Street Bridge daily to get to and from Harrisburg and the area’s western suburbs. The bridge stretches the entire width of the Susquehanna River and is one of only four river crossings in the metro Harrisburg area. It serves as a direct link to the center of the city, including the Pennsylvania State Capitol and key state office buildings. Constant use, the passage of time and the elements have taken a toll on the bridge. Its western spans have not seen substantial improvements in more than 50 years.
Michael Baker will complete an in-depth inspection of the structure, develop preliminary rehabilitation plans, provide necessary documentation for environmental clearance and complete final design plans for the reconstruction of 16 spans on the western side of the bridge. This section stretches for approximately a quarter of a mile from City Island on the Susquehanna River to the bridge’s western edge. The requirements include full design and engineering specifications for replacement of the bridge deck and pre-stressed concrete beams that support the bridge’s surface along with a phasing and traffic management plan to minimize disruption for commuters and pedestrians during construction.
The design and engineering phase of the project is set for completion by 2020.
The Market Street Bridge is a stone arch bridge that dates back to 1928 and is one of the oldest remaining bridges in Pennsylvania’s state capital. The National Park Service added the bridge to its National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
About Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.
CONTACT: Jeff Donaldson
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