The existing Blue Ridge Parkway Laurel Fork Bridge - GIS Location 36.387934, -81.259914, is a 5-span, two-girder steel bridge with a cast-in-place concrete deck. It is 546 feet long, 28 feet wide, and was built in 1939. As of 2020, EFLHD estimates that the existing bridge has approximately four years of service life remaining.

Per EFLHD recommendations, the Park has been monitoring the wind speeds and closing the bridge during major wind events since wind is the critical loading factor on the bridge.

The bridge will be replaced with a new segmental concrete bridge. The work will consist of existing bridge removal, substructure elements construction including installation of drilled shafts for foundation support, abutment and pier construction, including precast concrete pier and abutment elements and delivering them to the project site. The work will also include prefabricating and installing the superstructure elements, including deck, approach slabs, and concrete bridge rail, Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls with precast masonry blocks faced with stone masonry as wingwalls and stone masonry guardwalls.

Delivery Method: In-House Design