Opportunity
For years, the low clearance of the CSX railroad bridge in Niagara Falls, New York, posed a hazard for trucks traveling between the US and Canada.
In 2008, the cab of a tractor-trailer cleared the bridge, but not the trailer, whose roof was peeled off by the impact.
Solution
As part of a project to accommodate a new Amtrak station, the City of Niagara Falls launched a project to address the vertical clearance while accommodating the needs of Amtrak. Mott MacDonald was retained to provide a structural design for a new bridge as well as detour design, cost estimating, and construction support.
Outcome
The completed design, including staged construction and special architectural detailing, has improved safety, promoted the expansion of passenger rail, and reduced reliance on cars.