July 2017
Sisters Creek Bridge Wins National Award of Merit
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 鈥� The Florida Department of Transportation's replacement of the Sisters Creek Bridge, in Jacksonville, Fla., has been recognized with a National Award of Merit from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA). The award is part of the organization's 2017 Design-Build Project/Team Awards.
Constructed by Archer Western and designed by RS&H Engineering and Peters & Yaffee, Inc., the new Sisters Creek Bridge is a high-level fixed-span structure that replaces an existing 1950s-era drawbridge. The new bridge provides two 12-foot lanes, two 10-foot emergency lanes, two barrier-separated sidewalks, and improves access for hurricane evacuations, vehicles traveling across the bridge and boats traveling beneath.
The narrow channel under the old drawbridge was extended to allow for 125-feet of horizontal clearance, and the new structure allows for 65 feet of vertical clearance for traveling boats. The increased clearances alleviate road traffic congestion, and significantly reduces commuters often faced long wait times for the drawbridge.
The 2017 Design-Build Project/Team Awards showcase design-build best practices and celebrate the achievements of owners and design-build teams in ten categories across the spectrum of horizontal and vertical construction.
鈥淒esign-build projects like the Sisters Creek project in Florida will not only improve the lives of millions of Americans nationwide, they also provide innovation, time and cost savings at the same time. DBIA is thrilled to honor the Sisters Creek Bridge project and this impressive list of design-build winners while also recognizing the contributions these projects make to their communities,鈥� said Lisa Washington, CAE, DBIA Executive Director/CEO.