Florida DOT Uses Acrow's Prefabricated Modular Steel Bridging to Minimize Work Zone Impact During Major Highway Construction in Sarasota

PARSIPPANY, NJ--(Marketwired - Mar 30, 2016) - Acrow Bridge, a leading international bridge engineering and supply company, has provided the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) a modular steel bridge to be used during the construction of Florida's first diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and University Parkway in Sarasota. The project, which began in August 2015, is expected to be completed in September 2017. The Acrow bridge was opened to traffic in late February.

The Acrow structure, 280' long by 42' wide (the widest Acrow bridge in the U.S. to date), consists of three travel lanes with two four-foot shoulders on each side. The bridge will detour traffic on I-75 over University Parkway while contractor Prince Contracting, LLC demolishes and constructs new overpass bridges. The Acrow bridge, which weighs 480 tons exclusive of the asphalt surface, took approximately four weeks to build on-site in a very limited space, and was rolled and dropped into place for final installation. When construction is complete, FDOT will store the bridge for future projects, adding to the more than 8,000 feet of Acrow bridging the agency currently owns.

Diverging diamond interchanges, first used in the U.S. in 2009, have proved to relieve congestion and reduce major crashes by eliminating left turn crossing of oncoming traffic when entering or exiting an interstate. It is expected that the completed I-75 interchange will significantly enhance safety in this highly traveled area and also improve traffic flow on an ongoing basis and in the event of an emergency evacuation.

"The installation and launch of this bridge was conducted in a very tight six-hour timeframe during an overnight closure of I-75," said Will Smith, Southeast Regional Manager at Acrow Bridge. Added Bill Killeen, President and CEO of Acrow Bridge, "As this installation demonstrates, Acrow modular detour bridges are a logical choice for state DOTs and contractors who need to stay on or ahead of schedule. Acrow modular detour bridges, available for rent or purchase, are cost-effective and provide safe and dependable routes for area residents and businesses."

About Acrow Bridge
Acrow Bridge has been serving the transportation and construction industries for more than 60 years with a full line of modular steel bridging solutions for vehicle, rail, vessel, military and pedestrian use. Acrow's extensive international presence includes its leadership in the development and implementation of bridge infrastructure projects in over 80 countries, covering Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.acrow.com.