Innovative Bridge Rehab in Connellsville, PA Named Project of the Year
CONNELLSVILLE, PA—The American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) Southwest Penn Section honored the PA 711 Crawford Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project with the 2024 Project of the Year Award for projects exceeding $10 million. The award recognizes the project team’s innovative approach to rehabilitating an outdated and deteriorating bridge, delivering a modern, low-maintenance, multi-modal connection that enhances safety and extends the bridge’s lifespan.
The Crawford Avenue Bridge carries PA 711 over the Youghiogheny River and CSX Railroad and serves as a key transportation link to downtown Connellsville, PA. Originally built in 1959, the bridge required significant structural and safety improvements. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 12-0 selected Benesch to conduct an in-depth inspection, followed by preliminary and final design, and construction phase services.
The project replaced the outdated steel pin-and-hanger system with a more durable continuous steel beam superstructure, reducing the number of bridge deck joints from seven to one, thereby minimizing future maintenance costs. To reinforce the foundation without replacing a pier or abutment, the project team implemented an innovative “deadman system” at the west abutment. This involved burying a large concrete block in compacted soil and securing it to the existing structure with steel tiebacks and anchors.
The project also upgraded a 50-year-old USGS river monitoring station, replacing a bulky concrete tower with a more compact system that integrates seamlessly with the new bridge. To maintain utility services during construction, old bridge steel was repurposed to temporarily support a Verizon duct bank, streamlining the demolition and new beam installation.
Beyond structural upgrades, pedestrian and cyclist accommodations were significantly improved. “We added a new shared-use path and sidewalk and replaced the 28-inch railings with 44-inch-tall concrete barriers to provide greater protection for non-motorized users,” said Dean Morrison, Benesch Project Manager. The “Rutgers” barrier was chosen to give the modern bridge a retro aesthetic. “We also added modern decorative lighting to the bridge to improve visibility and upgraded the ramps to meet current ADA standards.”
The project team navigated several challenges during construction, including near-record river flooding, complex railroad coordination and the logistical constraints of working in a dense urban setting. Despite these complexities, the bridge reopened ahead of schedule in November 2024, celebrated by the community with a march across the bridge.
