Western Specialty Contractors – Minneapolis Branch recently contracted with S and S Development to restore a damaged pedestrian bridge connecting the four-story Ridgedale Office Center to its parking structure.

Years of severe winter weather had deteriorated the concrete bridge, and ultimately the collision of a horse trailer into the structure prompted its immediate repair. Western worked directly with the engineering firm Walker Consultants to design a replacement bridge railing system and estimate the repair work.

The scope of work included removing the bridge’s old steel railing system on all sides, replacing the outer concrete edge, and opening the precast plank’s outer core.

After Western removed the concrete, the structural components were inspected by Walker, who put the design into place.

Western then installed new supplemental reinforcing steel embeds into the precast plank structure and poured a new supporting edge on the outside of either side of the bridge. To create the edge, Western utilized a fast-setting, ready-mix concrete from a local plant and placed the concrete using a conveyor system to speed up the process and complete the project before winter set in.

During the construction process, Western workers ran into unexpected damage that prompted a slight change in plans.

“After we removed the old railing, we found that the outermost edge of the precast planks had a shear crack running longitudinally on both sides of the bridge,” said Western Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager David Grandbois.

“It was determined that this had to be completely removed, and new reinforcing steel had to be embedded into the existing planks to allow for a new concrete edge to be poured before Western could install the new railings.”

David Grandbois, Western Specialty Contractors Minneapolis Assistant Branch Manager

Western performed additional concrete repairs on the underside of the bridge and the abutments on either end. After completing all the concrete repairs, Western installed new galvanized railings and applied a traffic coating to protect the newly restored concrete deck.

Western completed the project in two months and within budget.

For more information about Western’s concrete restoration services, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com/concrete-services/.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.         

The Western Specialty Contractors Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City, MO, recently replaced leaking, improperly installed wall panels and flashings covering the control tower at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE.

Historic Offutt AFB is the headquarters for the US Strategic Command, 557th Weather Wing, and 55th Wing, the largest wing of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command. With its history dating back to 1894, Offutt AFB has played an essential role throughout US history, including hosting one of the first major strategy sessions by President George W. Bush in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With so many crucial military aircraft flying in and out of Offutt daily, it’s imperative that its airfield and control tower function properly at all times.

Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to replace leaking freezer panels and associated flashing on the envelope of the base’s control tower. The damage resulted from improper installation when the structure was built nearly 30 years ago.

Western’s sheet metal experts worked with project general contractor HHI Corp. to estimate/bid the job and design and fabricate a new Dri-Design wall panel system and associated flashings. Dri-Design is a 100% recyclable, pressure-equalized rain-screen architectural metal wall system that attaches to nearly any substrate without using clips or extrusions. Its interlocking design makes installation quick and easy, plus it comes in a variety of colors, materials, textures and custom perforations.

Western installed the control tower’s new metal panel system within a month and on budget. The architect on the project was Kenneth Hahn Architects.

For more information about Western’s KC Sheet Metal Branch, visit www.westernspecialtycontractors.com/projects/branches/kc-sheet-metal/.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.