design-build Route 79 - Davol Street Corridor Improvements

Steere is performing bridge and structure design as part of the $119 million Route 79 and Davol Street Corridor Improvements in Fall River, MA. The project will serve to reconstruct the corridor to establish multimodal connectivity between the neighborhoods and the waterfront by demolishing several existing structures and embankments and reconstructing the majority of the corridor at-grade.

Bridge design includes the replacement of Route 79 over the Davol Street Southern U-Turn. The two-span continuous steel plate girder bridge includes an aesthetic pier and numerous architectural features including artist mural spaces, up lighting, and landscaping to integrate the structure into the project’s overall architectural design. Shallow girders were utilized to achieve the project vertical clearance requirements.

Additional structure design being provided for the corridor reconstruction includes the layout and design of several retaining walls, overhead sign foundations, timber boardwalk reconstruction, and structural support for a precast culvert network that will be installed as part of the extensive drainage improvements that are required for the project. Steere provided coordination with the drainage engineer and culvert precaster to determine feasible manufacturer-designed solutions to help to accelerate construction.

Retaining walls will include a combination of cast-in-place cantilever walls and manufacturer-designed precast modular block walls. Boardwalk reconstruction will include local replacement of pile supported, timber framed boardwalk along the Taunton River to accommodate a new culvert outfall.

Steere is providing Design Services During Construction (DSDC) through project completion, which will include the final bridge load rating. The project will also include the demolition of several existing bridges and structures, which are being reviewed by Steere as part of the DSDC.

Location: Fall River, MA

Owner: Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)

Timeline: Design Completed in 2023; Construction Completion 2026 (Estimated)