H&H performed an emergency mechanical inspection of the WIS 54/Mason Street bridge in the City of Green Bay and provided repair recommendations following a pinion bearing failure that occurred during a routine bridge operation. A bearing support tore free from its base and trunnion column connection and displaced the pinion gear from its rack, causing a shutdown of the span. H&H provided inspection, calculations, and details for temporary span supports, a temporary locking system to safely hold the machinery fixed, and final reconnection of the pinion shaft bearing. Subsequent to the bridge being put back in service, WisDOT requested H&H to perform a follow-up inspection of the repair areas and other mechanical and structural systems. This included gear boxes, racks, trunnions, trunnion support steel, and grid decking.
H&H is currently performing the design for a rehabilitation project of the bascule span of WIS 54/Mason Street bridge. H&H is responsible for overall project management and all design. Work includes replacing steel grid deck panels, steel center median, and the bascule span stringers. The work will also include abrasive blast cleaning and full painting of the movable span and fixed framing of the trunnion support towers. The project will also replace deteriorated pier concrete, rubber bumpers, and timber rub rails. Initial investigation report of the structure and preliminary plans have been completed and are being used to develop final rehabilitation plans.
