Team's Foresight Extends Life of County Bridges

For immediate release: December 31, 2008
Contact: Road & Bridge, 233-3955

Aging infrastructure and poor maintenance are causing many bridges throughout the U.S. to become unsafe and/or to fail. Here in Palm Beach County the situation might be dire were it not for a dedicated group of engineering professionals. Approximately 10 years ago, the Palm Beach County Road and Bridge Division, under the leadership of James Snelgrove, took a proactive approach in the preservation and maintenance of the nine county-owned moveable bridges within its roadway system.

Eight of the structures cross the Intracoastal Waterway, and one spans the rim canal of Lake Okeechobee in Belle Glade. From north to south they are: the Boca Club Drive Bridge (1939), Palmetto Park Road Bridge (1988), Linton Boulevard Bridge (1981), Woolbright Road Bridge (1967), George Bush Boulevard Bridge (1949), Ocean Avenue (Lantana) Bridge (1950), Donald Ross Road Bridge (1999), County Road 707 Bridge (1969), and Point Chosen Bridge (1935).

The first major rehabilitation started in 1996 with the Linton Boulevard Bridge. It was in need of new motor gears and roadway surface. The contractor completed the project ahead of schedule with only one major change order to correct a severe unbalance, discovered during the repair process. 
In 1998, Point Chosen Bridge, one of only two manually controlled pivot bridges left in Florida, was replaced. The contractor finished ahead of schedule.

The George Bush Boulevard Bridge in Delray Beach was next in 2003. Using its own staff, the Road and Bridge Division rehabilitated and replaced the machinery and coordinated with the contractor for the rehabilitation, which included painting, replacing gears, sidewalks, handrails, and span grading. Again, the contractor finished ahead of schedule.

The County Road 707 Bridge to Jupiter Island was rehabilitated in 2005. County staff replaced and refurbished major drive components and agreed to metalize the structural steel components.

Next in line was the Boca Club Drive Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. The oldest bridge in the county had a number of challenges that were addressed along the way. The steel rehabilitation project was completed in 2007.

The Ocean Avenue Bridge over the Intracoastal is currently in the design phase for replacement. It is still open to the public due to the diligence of the Road and Bridge staff.  Some rehabilitation was previously completed in 1995.

The last of the major steel rehabilitations was completed this past fall on the Woolbright Road Bridge over the Intracoastal, again on time and within budget.

Snelgrove has retired since the rehabilitation/replacement program began, but his successor, Michael Bowman and his staff, Tony Luffman, Steve Bennet, Barry Meve, Bill Powell, and James Teresi have not missed a beat in continuing with the same diligence over the years. Director of Engineering Services Charlie Rich and his staff contribute to this effort by providing the necessary contractual expertise needed for bidding and procurement.

It should be noted that the current cost to build a new moveable bridge ranges from $40 to $80 million. Thanks to the Road and Bridge Division’s hard work and insight in operating and maintaining the county’s bridge assets, the additional life received from our existing spans represents a savings to taxpayers of more than $250 million that would have had to be expended if they were completely rebuilt.