Little Pine Island Bridge Reconstruction Update
MATLACHA, Fla. – To our valued community, we are pleased to share weekly updates on the ongoing construction of the Pine Island Bridge and the steps being taken to accelerate the project. We are committed to delivering this critical infrastructure as quickly as possible while ensuring quality and safety remain top priorities.
Changes to Expedite the Work
To enhance our progress, we are introducing nighttime work in addition to our daytime efforts and have added more crews to the site. These changes aim to keep the project on track and meet our ambitious timeline.
Phase 1 Update
We are targeting the completion of Phase 1 by spring 2025, and significant strides are being made on both the east and west sides of the bridge.
East Side Work
- Crews are focusing on clearing hurricane debris conflicts, a vital first step that requires the installation of a temporary sheet pile wall.
- Once the debris is cleared, we will begin:
- Driving the bulkhead pipe pile wall. In the case of the Pine Island Bridge construction, driving the bulkhead pipe pile wall is a critical step for stabilizing the foundation and ensuring the structural integrity of the bridge as it progresses.
- Key Steps in Driving a Bulkhead Pipe Pile Wall
- A pile driver (a machine equipped with a heavy hammer or hydraulic press) is used to drive the pipes deep into the ground.
- The piles are driven until they reach a specific depth or resistance, ensuring they are anchored securely into stable soil or bedrock.
- Wall Formation:
- The piles are typically placed side by side, forming a continuous vertical wall. The pipes can be hollow or filled with concrete or other materials for additional strength.
- Bulkhead pipe pile walls are often tied together with horizontal braces or caps to create a unified structure.
- Key Steps in Driving a Bulkhead Pipe Pile Wall
- Purpose of a Bulkhead Pipe Pile Wall:
- Erosion Control: Protects against soil loss in areas exposed to water or weather.
- Support: Provides stability for bridges, docks, piers, or other waterfront structures.
- Flood Prevention: Acts as a barrier to manage water levels and prevent flooding.
- Load-Bearing: Distributes the weight of a structure above, such as a bridge, evenly into the ground.
- Driving production piles for the end bent and pouring the concrete cap.
- Production piles are permanent structural elements driven into the ground to transfer the load of the bridge to deeper, more stable soil or bedrock. The end bent is the structural support at the ends of a bridge span that connects the bridge deck to the ground or abutments. It acts as both a support and a retaining structure, stabilizing the soil and bridge
- Rip rap installation to stabilize the area and protect against erosion.
- Rip Rap Installation refers to the placement of large, rough, angular stones or boulders along shorelines, riverbanks, bridge foundations, or other areas exposed to erosion.
- Placing slab beams, marking significant progress toward completing this section.
- Slab beams are typically long, rectangular concrete components reinforced with steel for added strength and durability; designed to act as both beams (carrying loads) and slabs (forming part of the deck surface).
- Driving the bulkhead pipe pile wall. In the case of the Pine Island Bridge construction, driving the bulkhead pipe pile wall is a critical step for stabilizing the foundation and ensuring the structural integrity of the bridge as it progresses.
West Side Work
- An additional subcontractor and crew will be on-site to place rip rap on the west side, working simultaneously with efforts on the east side. This coordinated approach ensures no delay in advancing both ends of the bridge.
We understand the importance of this bridge to the community and are dedicated to its timely completion. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to rebuild stronger and better than before.
Stay tuned for future updates as we make progress on this critical project.
To sign up for updates and access the weekly Road Watch, please visit the project website at 451937-2 Pine Island Causeway and Bridge Reconstruction Project. To access the bridge traffic cameras go to https://www.leegov.com/dot/traffic.
You can also contact the Communications Team by calling the project hotline at (239)-800-6391 or by emailing at pineislandinfo@exp.com.