The Court Street Bridge project will involve roadway and sidewalk reconstruction from Matthews Court to Addison Street and accelerated bridge construction (ABC). The ABC will involve a one month closure (April 2021) of Court Street to accommodate the installation of prefabricated bridge components. The detour will utilize the Route 3 bypass. The project includes an Ultra High Performance Concrete deck surface, which will be a first in New Hampshire. The UHPC aids in the accelerated construction and is effectively water-proof, aimed to mitigate future deck repairs within this busy corridor. Petroleum contaminated soils and groundwater will be removed from the site through participation with the NHDES Petroleum reimbursement fund. Existing water and sewer utilities will be reconstructed in the direct vicinity of the bridge utilizing trenchless technologies to speed construction, minimize disturbance of the channel, and further reduce contaminated soil handling. Drainage improvements from the previous Court Street projects will be continued through this project. The project is primarily funded by the NHDOT State Bridge Aid Program, with a 20% cost share for the City. In late August, three bids were received for the construction, with the lowest bid from Evroks Corporation of Northfield, NH. As of note, Evroks Corp. was the contractor for the recent, and successfully completed, Weirs bridge rehabilitation project which had a similar accelerated construction schedule.
The bridge closure is scheduled to occur in April 2021. Underground utility construction began in October 2020. Groundwater infiltration into the drilling pits for the new water line has presented a challenge due to volume and to contamination from an earlier leak from an underground fuel tank. The Water Department, Public Works, and the engineering consultant are investigating alternatives for installing the new water line. Drain installation will begin the week of November 30, 2020. Evroks Corp. will remobilize to the site in March 2021 to prepare for replacement of the bridge. Bridge closure is expected to be April 5, 2021 to May 5, 2021. During the bridge closure, Route 3 bypass will be used as the detour route. Once the bridge is complete, the contractor will complete the utility, road and sidewalk work with final paving scheduled for mid-July.
A public information session was held on September 30, 2020. You can access the session from the City’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlYTK7sAynQ&t=299s
Contact Krista Larsen, Assistant Public Works Director, at 528-6379 or KLarsen@laconianh.gov with any questions.