PERI USA Drives Efficiency for Major Pennsylvania Bridge Replacement
Cost-Efficient, Rentable Formwork for PA Turnpike Project
Travelers who regularly cross the Beaver River Bridge along the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, are accustomed to heavy congestion and delays, especially during peak hours. The bridge spans the Beaver River along the western corridor of the cross-state highway near the PA/Ohio border and serves as a connecting point for various communities and commercial areas in the region.
To address the traffic concerns, planners launched a multi-phase expansion project to fully replace the bridge along with reconstructing and widening the connecting roadways. Two new parallel beam bridges will replace the original span, each with 12-foot travel lanes and shoulders. Crews would also widen the existing four-lane roadway configuration to include six travel lanes, with three eastbound and three westbound.
PERI USA was selected to supply formwork solutions as well as custom heavy-duty offsite brackets to accommodate the size of the bridge pier caps.
“A key factor in the decision for this project was that the customer wanted fully rentable systems,” said Troy Westenbarger, regional account manager. “PERI was able to provide a cost-efficient solution while delivering a custom approach that allowed the customer to access cutting-edge technology without a long-term investment.”
Custom-Crafted Bridge Solutions
Crews utilized PERI’s VARIO GT 24 Girder Wall Formwork to form the walls of the pier table. VARIO GT 24 can be adapted to suit all geometries and requirements such as tie positions or acceptable fresh concrete pressure.
Crews also used the PERI UP Scaffold System to support the wings and outside deck of the pier table. The system is designed to meet even the most complex application needs, offering maximum adaptability with decking to change direction during installation and easily accommodate project-specific geometries. Featuring a nonslip perforated surface and quick, secure assembly using the “gravity lock” and self-locking decks, the system provides both ease of installation and exceptional load-bearing capacity, thanks to its special node rigidity and strong connections.
PERI's VARIOKIT components were also used for the pier tables, including RCS and SRU rails, GT 24 and VT20 wood girders, D15 and DW20 tie systems, and other components. One of the key advantages of the VARIOKIT system is its versatility. The system was selected for this project in part because of its ability to adapt to complex structures, making it an ideal solution for the contractor's needs.
“PERI was able to supply nonstandard heavy-duty offsite brackets that were shipped in from our Thailand facility to accommodate the size of the piers,” said Westenbarger. “By utilizing our global manufacturing network, we were able to deliver these brackets on schedule, providing a tailored solution that enhanced the efficiency of the pier construction process.”
Race to the Finish Line
Construction of the mainline PA Turnpike lanes and the new bridges over the Beaver River is expected to be completed in September 2027.
