Replacement work on a key Interstate 10 river crossing in Arizona has advanced into its next construction phase following completion of girder installation activities on the eastbound bridge structure.
Pulice, a FlatironDragados company, completed placement of the final girders for the eastbound bridge over the Gila River in Pinal County. The work is part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s broader effort to replace aging bridge infrastructure along one of the Southwest’s primary transportation corridors.
Construction crews installed a total of 91 girders on the eastbound bridge structure. The most recent operation included placement of 39 girders during the project’s third phase of work.
According to project details released by Pulice, the girder installation operation was completed over approximately one week.
The bridge utilizes precast UBT 50 girders with average lengths of roughly 104 feet. Crews used crane-assisted placement methods supported by staged trucking operations and field teams responsible for securing girders after installation.
TPAC supplied the girders and served as the setting subcontractor for the operation. Bragg Company provided crane services as a subcontractor to TPAC.
Project teams coordinated installation activities around active interstate traffic conditions. Construction personnel staged girders before sunrise and conducted placement operations during daylight hours to support visibility and site safety requirements.
With girder placement complete, crews can continue superstructure construction activities for the eastbound bridge.
The I-10 Gila River bridge replacement project includes demolition and replacement of two existing two-lane bridge structures with new three-lane bridges designed with full-width shoulders.
In addition to the bridge structures, the project includes reconstruction of roadway approaches into three-lane sections separated by a concrete median barrier.
The upgraded crossing is designed with deeper bridge foundations and an elevated structure intended to improve long-term resilience at the river crossing.
The corridor serves as a major freight and commuter route connecting the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas.
Bridge replacement and interstate modernization projects continue to represent a significant share of transportation construction activity across the Southwest as state agencies address aging infrastructure and freight mobility demands.
Projects involving phased bridge replacement over active interstate corridors require extensive coordination among contractors, specialty subcontractors, crane operators and hauling providers to minimize traffic disruption while maintaining construction schedules.
For contractors and infrastructure owners, girder placement milestones typically signal transition into deck, barrier and finishing work that can accelerate overall project completion timelines.
Source: Pulice
