St. Augustine,
Florida
Client:
Florida Department of Transportation
RS&H
Role/Responsibility:
Lead Designer
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Project
Description:
Built in 1927, the Bridge of Lions ranks as
one of the most aesthetically important
spans in Florida and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The
design process for the rehabilitation
project revealed several ways to preserve
and restore the bridge’s original structure
and incorporate unique methods for
conserving natural resources including:
- Recycling and Reusing Existing
Elements - by rehabilitating and
reusing over 380 tons of structural steel,
the bascule towers and the bascule piers
from the original structure, the carbon
footprint of bridge construction is reduced
by mitigating the need to harvest, create
and transport new materials.
- Reducing the Frequency of Required
Maintenance - the structural steel
beams will be metalized with molten zinc, a
barrier coating that will triple the time
between routine repairs, ultimately
conserving capital resources and materials,
as well as expanding its lifecycle to nearly
30 years. Additionally, reducing maintenance
also reduces potential future contaminate
impacts.
- Providing Interconnectivity within
the City - the rehabilitation of the
bridge and the restoration of the park
approaches at each end promote a more
pedestrian-friendly district, reconnects the
mainland business district and beaches with
a safer facility that also reduces
congestion and subsequent emissions of
greenhouse gases.
- Reducing Waste - when the
bridge is completed, the temporary vertical
lift bridge will be completely removed, and
materials from the temporary bridge will be
reused in the development of artificial
reefs along the coastal waters of Northeast
Florida.
- Preserving the Area’s Unique
Historic and Cultural Heritage - the
design team fully engaged the local
community, as well as civic and
environmental groups in the development of
planning and design goals.
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