Construction on the Mathews Bridge has finished more than two weeks early.
The work to rehabilitate the bridge’s deck required lane closures for weeks. The work began in January and was supposed to go for two months, but contractor Orlando R&B finished more than a couple weeks early.
“This project was completed ahead of schedule and underscores the commitment FDOT has to the community: to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” FDOT District Two Secretary Greg Evans said.
The company was awarded $494,885 to reinforce the 65-year-old bridge.
The bridge wasamong 40 in the Jacksonville area that Florida Department of Transportation inspectors rated “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete.”
At the time, then-DOTspokesman Ron Tittle told WJCT News the ratings did not mean they’re unsafe, but that deficient bridges would have to be replaced within six years and receive more frequent inspections.
“It’s obsolete, but it’s not deficient. That means it’s still functional. We just recently did steel grating. We replaced sidewalks. We replaced some of the guardrails on it. But the structure is still good,” he said in January 2016.
More than 72,000 travel the bridge every day, according to the DOT.
Reporter Ryan Benk can be reached at rbenk@wjct.org, 904-358-6319 or on Twitter @RyanMichaelBenk
