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Jackson Avenue Project Moves from Below-Ground Work to Building Skeletons for New Ramps 
Aerial photo of the Jackson Avenue Ramp Replacement Project construction site, taken earlier this month by a drone.

Aerial photo of the Jackson Avenue Ramp Replacement Project construction site, taken earlier this month by a contractor's drone.


For seven months, Bell & Associates Construction and other crews have been toiling, largely unseen, below Jackson Avenue.

Now, their extensive preparation is paying off, as the framework for two new ramps that will connect Jackson Avenue to Gay Street overhead is slowly taking shape.

"It took time to carefully demolish the old ramps, put in the caissons and finish the deep foundation," said Ryan Henley of Vaughn & Melton Consulting Engineers. "It wasn't that visible when the work was all being done below ground. But columns are going up. In the very near future, the skeleton for the new ramps will be in place."

The $8.2 million project to replace the structurally deteriorating 100-year-old ramps is on schedule. Bridge beams will be built by this summer, and the original pavers will be put back into the new decks after that. The avenue and new access to Gay Street is anticipated to reopen this fall.

"We knew this would be a difficult project, but the condition of the antiquated ramps really gave us no choice from a safety standpoint," said City Downtown Coordinator Rick Emmett. "We're pleased that Bell & Associates is on schedule and that the project team has moved into the above-ground construction stage. We really appreciate everyone's patience throughout this project." 
 
Crews have finished much of the underground work for the new Jackson Avenue ramps - caissons and foundations. Soon, they will be building columns, the skeleton of the ramps and bridge beams.
Posted by evreeland On 01 May, 2020 at 4:04 PM