Eastbound SR-312 bridge repairs through late 2012

The Florida Department of Transportation informed Historic City News reporters in St Augustine that they have scheduled repainting and repair eastbound across the Mickler-O’Connell Bridge, beginning March 21st.

During construction, the steel portion of the eastbound bridge will be cleaned and repainted with a protective coating. This project is intended to maintain the integrity of the structure and to protect the steel frame of the bridge, which was built in 1976.

Other activities include making repairs to the fender system within the river and repairing small portions of the concrete bridge deck, bridge joints and the bridge drainage system.

To minimize traffic impacts during construction and to provide safety for the contractor and the motorists, a temporary barrier wall will be placed along the outside, eastbound lane and traffic will be shifted to the inside shoulder of the bridge. Once the bridge repainting is completed, the barrier wall will be removed.

Nighttime lane closures will be necessary Sunday through Thursday while crews install the barrier wall and also while the repairs are made to the bridge deck, bridge joints and the drainage. The contractor currently plans to work seven days a week with daytime and nighttime work.

Barges will be near the area beneath the bridge and the vertical clearance for boaters will be reduced by four feet between June 4 and July 15. Boaters should use caution while traveling through this area.

FDOT hired Astron General Contractors Inc. of Jacksonville, North Carolina to complete this $1.5 million project by late 2012. The average daily traffic for eastbound State Road 312 is 17,500 vehicles per day.