Farris Concrete Pumping pumps stronger concrete 4/22/2009

BILOXI — Traffic could be crossing Popp’s Ferry Bridge by this weekend, ahead of the Tuesday deadline.

“It’s looking like it will be on time or earlier,” said Mississippi Department of Transportation Project Engineer Chuck Starita. “The contractor anticipates the possibility sometime this weekend.”

On Wednesday afternoon crews began the first pour of the bridge deck. This fast-setting concrete hardens so quickly that concrete trucks were staged so when one was emptied another was ready to move into place. He said the cure time is 8 to 12 hours for full strength.

JOHN FITZHUGH/SUN HERALD Employees of Joe McGee Construction, Farris Concrete Pumping and Bayou Concrete pour the first deck section of the Popp’s Ferry Road bridge in Biloxi on Wednesday. Work on the bridge repair project could b completed as soon as this weekend. Gallery: Popp's Ferry Bridge could be open by weekend Story: SUNHERALD TV: Popps Ferry Bridge Ahead of Schedule Story: Early completion a bonus for all

When the six deck pours are done in 30-foot sections, the concrete railing will be poured. “We’ll be able to open to traffic after that,” Starita said.

Joe McGee Construction of Lake was awarded the $2-million contract to repair the two sections of the bridge that collapsed March 20 when hit by a tug pushing eight barges full of rock. McGee Construction began work April 11 and the crews have worked almost constantly in two 12-hour shifts.

The new spans will be better than the originals, Starita said.

“This is a stronger concrete and there are extra pilings underneath,” he said.

The eight original pilings were replaced with 12 new ones.

Starita said MDOT thought there might be some complaints from neighbors about the noise when crews were driving pilings at night.

“As far as I know we didn’t get one single complaint,” he said. Some neighbors told the workers they hadn’t heard anything.

Oscar Edkhoff lives nearby and said he occasionally heard noise from the bridge repair but found the time the bridge was closed to be peaceful.

“I love the lack of traffic on Atkinson Road,” he said.

Popp’s Ferry Road south of the bridge was paved while the bridge was being repaired and traffic was light.

The bridge is owned by Biloxi. Mayor A.J. Holloway and the City Council asked MDOT to oversee the repairs. Federal Highway Emergency funds are paying for the repairs until insurance money can be recouped. The bidding process was fast-tracked and MDOT pre-ordered the material for the bridge so it would be on site when work started.

The railing for the pedestrian bridge had to be fabricated to match.

“When we open the bridge it won’t be open to pedestrians,” he said. The railings should be delivered around June 1 and the project is scheduled to be complete June 5.

By MARY PEREZ http://www.sunherald.com/news/transportation/story/1292916.html