Original Foundation Restored Via Design-Build for More Efficient, Less Costly Project Delivery
View Photos of Completed Work Here
MTA Bridges and Tunnels and MTA Construction & Development have completed a tower pedestal restoration project at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge three months ahead of schedule and under budget. The work involved restoration of the pedestals and foundations at the Brooklyn and Staten Island towers of the bridge.
This vital state-of-good-repair project consisted of restoring the original 1960s-era granite pavers and tower foundation exposed surfaces, extending their useful life for many years to come.
“This is another successful MTA project that has been delivered faster, better and under budget,” said Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development. “Kudos to our workforce, our partners in organized labor and the contractors who kept this project going safely during the COVID crisis so our transportation network – including our bridges – are ready as people return to work.”
“Restoring these structural elements ensures the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge will continue to serve our customers throughout the region for decades to come,” said Daniel F. DeCrescenzo, Jr., President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels. “Being able to preserve the original aesthetics is a bonus for one of New York’s most iconic crossings.”
The granite façade was restored to original condition and all joints were sealed to protect the tower foundations, which support the 693-foot-high towers, weighing 27,000 tons each. The existing granite stone encapsulation of the four pedestals was cleaned and methodically restored to original condition. In doing so, the original tower foundations were exposed, inspected for structural integrity, and repaired. While exposed, the concrete surfaces of the top-of-tower foundations had a waterproofing protection membrane applied that will protect and preserve them from future deterioration.
The massive granite pedestals that support the bridge’s iconic towers are immediately evident to boaters navigating the river near the bridge or to visitors of the waterfront parks in Brooklyn or Staten Island.
Another segment of the project consisted of constructing a new mooring platform at the Staten Island pedestal and rehabilitation work to the Brooklyn mooring platform. These platforms serve as locations where FDNY fire boats may tie up and gain access to the fire standpipe system that runs up to the roadway levels for emergency use.
Construction of the pedestals was originally completed in 1964 and with this first major rehabilitation of these critical structural elements extending their useful for decades to come.
Construction Highlights:
- Project Award Date: October 31, 2018
- Substantial Completion Date: July 31, 2020 (3 months ahead of schedule)
- Duration: 21 months
- Design-Builder: Kiewit Infrastructure Co. / AECOM
- Construction Inspection Services: M&J Engineering
- Quality Oversight: Hardesty & Hanover Construction Services
- Design-Build cost: $34M