The South Norfolk Jordan Bridge is a precast segmental bridge over the Elizabeth River and connecting roadway at major intersections. The bridge spans over an environmental superfund site, a park, a major navigational channel, active rail lines, and local roads.

The bridge is 5,375’ long with 150’ typical spans and a 385’ main span with a 145’ vertical clearance over the navigational channel. The 150’ typical spans were constructed using span by span segmental construction techniques with an underslung erection truss while the 385’ main span and each of the adjacent 190’ back spans were constructed by the balanced cantilever segmental construction technique utilizing a floating crane for segment erection. There are 35 precast segmental spans supported on precast segmental columns and cast-in-place footings. The land footings are founded on 24” prestressed concrete piles and the water footings are founded on 54” prestressed concrete cylinder piles. This project also included a pair of mass concrete fender rings supported on 66” prestressed concrete cylinder piles.

This project was unique in that it was a project to improve the public transportation system that was provided by a private entity, South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, LLC, led by Figg Bridge Builders. The City of Chesapeake did not have the funding to rebuild this bridge, so the bridge had to be shut down due to structural deficiencies. Figg Bridge Builders acting as the managing partner for South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, LLC reached an agreement with the City to take over ownership of the bridge with the agreement to demolish the existing bridge and provide them with a new bridge in its place. The project featured a Design Build Private Project atmosphere where the investment of the project is tied to future toll revenues.

As managing partner, Figg Bridge Builders acted as the lead construction managers and Figg Bridge Engineers were the lead designer for this project. McLean Contacting Company worked as the major subcontractor on this project. McLean was responsible for all the pile driving and foundation work on both the land and water, segmental column erection on both the land and water, balanced cantilever superstructure erection over the water and the construction of the mass concrete fender ring systems protecting the navigational zone. The superstructure and column segments were supplied by others and erected by McLean.

McLean finished this high profile project with an excellent safety record and had no permit violations while preforming this work over an EPA superfund site and a major active navigational channel. There were no disputes with the owner or the prime contractor on this project. There were no DBE goals on this project, but McLean still utilized 3.7% DBE participation on their portion of the contract.

When completed this bridge created a major river crossing over the Elizabeth River providing a valuable link between the cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia.