Whitehead Road Over AMTRAK

Arora designed a 116-meter long, three-span continuous multiple girder bridge to replace an 82-year old existing through-girder bridge over AMTRAK's Northeast Corridor, the heaviest traveled electrified rail corridor in the USA. The difficult project site placed many constraints on the project solution. Raising the bridge to obtain minimum clearances over the railroad dictated raising the roadway. The proximity of the intersection with East State Street and adjacent buildings further constrained the horizontal and vertical geometry. An abandoned recycling facility had to be avoided and on-site contaminated soil required a cleanup plan.

In addition to working over an active electrified rail line, AMTRAK's NE Corridor communications duct bank and AT&T and MCI trunklines were located immediately adjacent to the existing abutment. A new water main was jacked under the railroad tracks and a Conrail freight track was relocated.

Arora and Associates, P.C. delivered all contract deliverables before the accelerated submission dates.

During Design and Construction, partnering was embraced by the NJDOT, the contractor, Arora, AMTRAK and the utility companies. Project issues were resolved collaboratively without resorting to formal contract resolution procedures. As a result, the bridge was opened 10 months ahead of schedule.

The project was nominated for the American Society of Highway Engineers Project of the Year award and the New Jersey Department of Transportation submitted the project to the FHWA for an Excellence in Highway Design as an outstanding example of an urban highway reconstruction project.

The project was completed on schedule at a cost of $18 million.