STV has been contracted by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to perform resident engineering inspection services for the demolition and replacement of a steel rail bridge owned by Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) over the heavily traveled Van Wyck Expressway. This contract is part of a larger program that aims to improve accessibility on the Van Wyck, ultimately adding a high-occupancy vehicle lane connecting to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Since the existing structure currently carries live power cables, a temporary utility bridge is being constructed to maintain these cables during demolition. New bridge abutments, a new center pier, and superstructure will be part of the replacement. The new bridge will be supported on cast-in-place concrete piles.

A significant challenge for this contract is coordinating between the NYSDOT and the LIRR so that construction operations comply with the railroad’s requirements. Other challenges include working in a busy, confined area, and maintaining a schedule that calls for completing all work in less than a year.