Temporary supports for the girders will be constructed and ground prepared to support the cranes and trucks used to transport and off load the girders at the Ferguson Lab. The girders will be placed near the final test site and stored off the ground. Repair top flange, shear studs, top lateral system, and connection plates at end diaphragms damaged in removal of concrete deck. Work to be done by a Houston based fabricator (Trinity Industries) prior to shipment of girders to Austin. Damaged girders will be taken to Trinity Industries in Houston for repair, after repair: Girders from the demolished bridge located in Houston , Texas will be shipped on the shipping contractors trucks to the Ferguson Lab.
A crane contractor will be hired to off load the girders and place them on the temporary supports constructed at the Ferguson Lab. The girders will be stabilize by connecting the end cross diaphragms if the diaphragms are intact. If the diaphragms require repair, they will be repaired or temporary cross frames will be fabricated and put in place. Concrete pedestals to support the girders at the test height will be constructed to support the bridge and a simulated live load on the bridge. Form and replace bridge deck with new cast in place concrete deck duplicating reinforcement of original.