Title:
Reconstruction of Florida’s Peace River Bridge
Author(s):
Kim Lacina
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
25
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
76-77
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
2/1/2003
Abstract:
Southwest Florida travelers will soon be reaping the benefits of the $53 million expansion and renovation of the Peace River Bridge in Punta Gorda, FL. This heavily traveled, four-lane section of Interstate 75 had required continual maintenance, often resulting in lane closures and traffic disruption, and had ceased to meet the needs of area traffic. Built in the early 1980s, the Peace River Bridge is 8040 ft (2500 m) in length and stands 45 ft (14 m) above the shallow waters of the Peace River, which flows out to the Gulf of Mexico. Over time, the precast panel deck required ever-greater maintenance. Deck spalling forced maintenance crews to close lanes nearly every other week to make repairs. The Florida DOT saw the deterioration as an opportunity to relieve the cost and inconvenience of maintenance and, at the same time, expand the bridge to six lanes, easing congestion.