WGI was the lead designer on this award-winning project which replaced the Big John Monahan Bridge over the St. Lucie Canal in Martin County. The project increased capacity and improved safety with the new, wider bridge and upgrades to two miles of SR 710. WGI’s innovative design shortened the bridge by nearly 1,000 feet and eliminated most MSE walls west of the Okeechobee Waterway, saving FDOT nearly $10M. The 1,000-foot reduction in bridge length was achieved through strategically acquiring right-of-way from a willing seller. WGI was responsible for overall project management, design, quality assurance/quality control, roadway engineering, traffic control plans, drainage, signing and pavement marking, environmental permitting, utility coordination, survey, and public involvement.

The bridge was constructed using 84-inch Florida I Beams spanning 185 feet – the longest ever set in Florida. WGI obtained permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, South Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Utility work required heavy coordination with FPL, FGT and AT&T. Overhead power lines were located using terrestrial LiDAR to meet and exceed the minimum OSHA clearance standards. Existing facilities for other utilities were relocated successfully without interruption. Drainage improvements included a new offsite dry retention pond and a new wet detention pond. Wetland impacts were less than 0.5-acre – well below the 2.5 acres identified in the PD&E.

The project was completed 104 days ahead of schedule and provided a $25,784,115 cost savings (from the proposed cost presented in the RFP). The Design-Build Team was awarded a perfect Contractor’s Past Performance Rating (CPPR) score of 110.

This project received a FICE Grand Award, the DBIA Florida Project of the Year Award (Transportation), DBIA Florida Best Overall Project of the Year, and the Engineers’ Council Distinguished Engineering Project Achievement Award.