International Bridge toll plaza project wins award

Fast facts:

– The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge 2015 toll plaza reconstruction project was recently honored with a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC).
– The major upgrade to the U.S.-Canada border crossing involved constructing a new administration building and seven toll lanes to replace the original 53-year-old building and five toll lanes.
– The ACEC Merit Award recognizes projects

based upon application of new or existing techniques; social, economic, and sustainable design considerations; complexity; and other factors.

March 14, 2017 — The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge toll plaza reconstruction project was recently honored with a Merit Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Michigan. The ACEC Merit Award recognizes worthy projects based upon application of new or existing techniques; future value to engineering and surveying professions; social, economic, and sustainable design considerations; exceeding client needs; and project complexity. The award was announced at the organization’s annual gala March 11 in Detroit. (more…)

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International Bridge board hears inspection updates

 Fast facts:

– The International Bridge recently underwent a fracture critical inspection, an annual inspection, and a federally required load rating review. Ongoing maintenance is keeping the bridge in good condition.
– The Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board of directors named member Micheline Dubé as its chair and member Thomas Buckingham Sr. vice chair for 2017.
– The SSMBA board also named Dubé as its vice chair for the remainder of 2016, replacing departing member Glenn Hewus.

November 18, 2016 — The Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Authority (SSMBA) board of directors, the bi-national body which supervises operations of the International Bridge, heard reports on bridge inspections and remaining plaza work at the board’s regular meeting Thursday.

The SSMBA board reviewed and officially accepted the results of the annual bridge inspection and fracture critical inspection. A team of bridge engineering experts from the firm of Hardesty and Hanover (H&H) of Okemos, Mich., conducted the two-week-long annual inspections of the bridge this fall and presented their findings at Thursday’s meeting.

“Outstanding ongoing maintenance is keeping the bridge in good to fair condition,” said H&H structural engineer Richard Wianecki. “The overall condition of the bridge is good and there are no serious issues.” (more…)

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International Bridge Plaza work to be completed

October 7, 2016 — A project to replace concrete showing premature signs of wear, as well as completion of other work on the International Bridge U.S. toll plaza, will begin Monday.

Beginning Monday at noon, two of the four northbound toll lanes will be closed while concrete is removed from one of the lanes. After concrete has been re-poured, one of the two closed lanes will reopen. The repaired lane will remain closed for up to four weeks while the concrete fully cures during the cooler fall temperatures. (more…)

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