Description of Services
This project involved the replacement of an existing swing bridge with a new vertical lift bridge over the Mobile River in Baldwin County, Alabama. The new structure featured a 325-foot through truss lift span and was designed to provide a navigational clearance of 65 feet in the fully raised position. The replacement was part of a critical upgrade to CSX’s rail infrastructure.
Principal Engineer, Sena Kumarasena, Ph.D., P.E., served as the Bridge Task Manager and Technical Lead for the project. A primary focus of the design effort was to develop a replacement strategy that minimized disruption to rail operations during construction. This required careful planning of construction staging, erection sequencing, and integration with existing rail alignments to ensure continuity of service. The final design balanced operational requirements, navigational improvements, and constructability to deliver a durable and efficient lift bridge solution.