Orion was at the forefront of the Pinellas Bayway Bridge Replacement project, a significant endeavor aimed at replacing a nearly 50-year-old, two-lane drawbridge with a more robust four-lane structure. The foundation work involved driving pilings into the sand and employing a diesel pile-driving hammer to transfer substantial energy into the pile to achieve secure ground penetration. With no bedrock in the area, the pilings reached a hard sand or clay layer for optimal strength. Our design plans considered water motion, setting a minimum depth for pilings to withstand potential scouring during extreme weather events.

The pilings extended deep, ranging from 75 feet to 115 feet below the water elevation, forming the basis for reinforced concrete footings. Each footing, measuring 22 feet by 22 feet and 6 feet deep, supported columns and pier caps to bear the load of the new concrete beams and bridge surface. With a focus on concrete, each support pier integrated 16 pilings and footers, containing around 100 cubic yards (CY) of concrete. The overall concrete quantities for the columns and pier caps varied, totaling between 210 CY and 330 CY per pier. Our commitment to quality extended to materials, with more than 23,500 CY of concrete and 2,300 tons (T) of reinforcing steel slated for on-site usage. Noteworthy was our use of nearly 6,700T of asphalt for constructing new lanes and resurfacing existing ones.

As we transformed the landscape, over 100 palm trees and additional landscaping elements were strategically planted along the bridge and its widened approaches. In addition, Orion demolished two existing bascule bridge structures and placed all concrete portions of the existing bridge at a reef site nine miles offshore.

We collaborated seamlessly with subcontractors and the FDOT staff, to successfully complete the Pinellas Bayway Bridge Replacement project.