October 12th 2023 In-Person Event

Presentation Topic:

The presentation will showcase strategies used in the development of a cost-effective design and construction that allowed this bridge to be designed, approved, and constructed within 24 months. Discussions will include the approaches in the design to address durability and construction techniques that accelerated the construction.

The Harry W. Nice / Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge over the Potomac River replaces an existing 1.9-mile, two-lane undivided bridge with a new 61-foot-wide bridge superstructure, with four 12-foot-wide lanes, and a center median to increase traffic capacity, improve safety and facilitate access for maintenance and wide-load vehicles. The new bridge was designed and constructed to cost effectively balance the number of spans against the number of the supporting piers. The design leveraged a combination of prestressed concrete girders in the low- and high-level approach spans towards the main channel long spans with haunched steel girders providing a 250-foot wide by 135-foot-high navigational channel. The substructure and foundations vary from pile bents to concrete columns and caps on waterline footings, all using prestressed concrete piles. The design approach provided a simple and repetitive structure, which increased construction efficiency, allowing the design and construction to be completed within 24 months.

Presenter Biography:

Steve is a Project Manager at AECOM in Hunt Valley, Maryland.  He has over 36 years of experience designing and rehabilitating many different types of bridges and other transportation structures. He has had the opportunity to work on major bridge projects around the country, including the New Harry W. Nice / Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge. Steve is a registered professional engineer in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, and is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he has received both his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and his Master of Science degrees.

Brian Wolfe is the Director of Project Development for MDTA where he oversees programs and projects developed out of MDTA’s White Marsh Office, including the I-95 Express Toll Lanes Northbound Extension Program and the Nice/Middleton Bridge Replacement Design/Build project. Nationally, he represents MDTA at the AASHTO/National Steel Bridge Alliance Collaboration, where he is a member of several task groups. Brian is also a member of the Executive Committee for the International Bridge Conference where he assists with developing the technical sessions and workshops. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Penn State and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Maryland.  Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Maryland, Virginia and Ohio.