ILDOT US-52 Savanna-Sabula Deck-Tied Arch Bridge Replacement

Overview

Kraemer replaced this historic steel truss bridge and the realignment of US 52 crossing the Mississippi River between Savanna, IL, and Sabula, IA. The new 11-span bridge comprises three separate portions, two plate girder units consisting of 10 spans totaling 1,908 feet, and the central 546-foot-long tied-arch span, perched 60 feet above the main navigation channel.

Using an alternative to the original design, we erected the tied arch with contractor-designed towers and an onsite cantilevered method of erection. This innovation minimized the impact on marine navigation and recreational boat traffic by eliminating the need to construct in-water falsework adjacent to active shipping lanes by using a multi-staged construction erection plan. Through this method, bridge pieces were transported by a barge, where a crane was used to install the arch pieces in place, supported by cable-stays above. Through these innovations and expertise with complex steel erection, we met the owner’s tight timeline while seamlessly maintaining mobility.