A case of asphalt shoving on the recently built Queen Mary Highway Bridge. Photo Credit: JAMAR HEWLETT
The Queen Mary Highway Bridge, which reopened less than two months ago after an extended closure for repairs, is already facing the need for additional work. The Department of Public Works announced on Tuesday that repairs will soon be underway.
According to DPW, the Federal Highway Administration’s Eastern Federal Lands division and DPW identified "minor defects" with the bridge entrances last month, along with signs of "shoving"—a condition where ripples form across the pavement on the bridge deck.
A meeting between DPW and the project contractor, Custom Builders, has already taken place to address the matter, according to Public Works. The department confirmed that while the defects on the bridge entrances have been corrected, the contractor is awaiting the arrival of a specialized bridge membrane to help the asphalt adhere properly to the bridge’s superstructure.
DPW Commissioner Derek Gabriel has reassured the public that the bridge remains safe and emphasized that rumors about the bridge "sinking" are unfounded. "We have received several calls from concerned citizens about the condition of the recently reopened bridge. I want to assure the public the irregularities are not being caused by structural issues at all,” he said. “We worked with our partners at Eastern Federal Lands, the project managers, to make sure the bridge remains safe. DPW will make sure the repairs are made as quickly as possible, and all concerns are addressed. The public's safety remains our number one priority."
The membrane, once it arrives on the island, will be installed to ensure proper adhesion of the asphalt to the deck, according to FHWA. The repairs are expected to take between 48 and 72 hours to complete, depending on weather conditions. DPW has assured that an alert will be issued to the public prior to the bridge being closed for repairs.
In the meantime, the public is reminded to drive cautiously over the bridge, adhering to the posted speed limit of 20 mph.
