Heath & Lineback Engineers, Inc. (H&L) provided design services to replace the Veterans Memorial Bridge carrying Broad Avenue over the Flint River in downtown Albany. The existing bridge was a three span, open spandrel, deck arch structure with multiple closed spandrel arches in the approaches. The bridge was built in 1920 and dedicated to the veterans of World War I. The existing bridge was the third bridge at the site, having replaced a steel through truss bridge that stood from 1897 to 1920. The steel through truss bridge replaced the original wooden lattice truss built by the famed slave bridge designer and builder Horace King. The original bridge stood from 1858 to 1897.
In 2004, H&L was contracted by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to inspect the existing structure and develop rehabilitation plans. The rehabilitation scope grew as additional studies were performed, and it was determined that the entire deck and the majority of the spandrel columns and deck beams would require replacement and the foundations in the water would require extensive rehabilitation. During additional study and inspection of the foundations in the water in February 2009, it was discovered that the foundations had been undermined and were crumbling. The bridge was closed immediately.
H&L was contracted in February 2010 by GDOT to develop bridge replacement plans. GDOT utilized a fast-track project delivery process to let the project in May 2011 in order to restore vital city grid connectivity and community connectivity as quickly as possible. A stakeholder involvement process was utilized to develop a bridge