Silver Lake Park Bridge

Technical Description:

• Width: 6-ft.
• Span: 70-ft.
• Style: Connector^®
• Finish: Weathering Steel
• Decking: Trex^®

The City of Dover deemed it necessary to improve the park’s handicapped access. They chose to replace an old wood bridge with a high arch and deteriorating wood abutments with a more user-friendly and lower maintenance prefabricated steel bridge. The City issued a Request for Proposals for a Design-Build contract to replace the existing bridge and approach paths with a new structure that would meet their needs and ADA requirements. The contract was awarded to George and Lynch, Inc., of Dover, Delaware.

The new Continental ^® Connector ^® truss bridge, like the original, would be located in the 100-year flood plain downstream from a dam built across the St. Jones River. Once installed, it would provide access to both sides of the river and the woodland trail. The 70’ x 6’ pedestrian truss was built of weathering steel and Trex ^® Brand decking was specified to keep maintenance to a minimum.

The real challenge came when it was time to install the new structure. City of Dover officials, for aesthetic and environmental reasons, did not want to disturb any of the existing trees. To successfully accomplish the task, a crane operator carefully lifted the 70’ long bridge up over the tree canopy and placed it onto the new concrete abutments.

Technical Description:

• Width: 6-ft.
• Span: 70-ft.
• Style: Connector^®
• Finish: Weathering Steel
• Decking: Trex^®