Bridge In Wylam Neighborhood Closed For Repairs

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Repairs to the 36th Street bridge in Birmingham's Wylam neighborhood is expected to affect traffic in the area, according to a report from the City of Birmingham.

The project's intent is to correct the settling of the bridge approaches on both sides, repair slope paving under bridge ends and repair damaged concrete beams under the bridge deck.

Due to soft soil conditions, abutments have settled at this bridge location; lowering the approaches. The settlement has created a rough ride during the approach or exit from the bridge. Slope paving protecting the earth under abutments has failed; resulting in erosion. The most severe elevation drop is at the sidewalks where the bridge deck connects to approach roadway.

The project will strengthen the soils supporting abutments, re-align the abutments, repair and restore damaged sections of concrete at girder ends and clean and restore joints. This will be accomplished by removing the existing bridge end slabs down to subgrade, replace soft soils with structural fill and rebuild with new concrete end slab.

Damaged sections of slope paving will be reconstructed or repaired to allow for adequate drainage.

The road will have to be fully closed to allow for a full demo and rebuild, in order to prevent uneven/differential settlement among lanes:

• Construction start date: 1/6/2020
• Construction end date: 6/14/2020
• Contract amount: $793,265

Suggested detour routes are as follows:

From west side of road closure to I-59/20 downtown:

• 7th Ave and Erie Street
• Straight to stay on Erie Street
• Left on Crawford Street
• Left on Veterans Memorial Drive
• Right on 36th Street and continue straight to downtown

Another alternative is to continue on 7th Ave W, then Right turn on Indiana Ave, Right turn on Slayden Avenue, Right turn on Port Birmingham Road and Right turn on Avenue C

From east side of road closure to Wylam:

• 36th Street
• Left on Veterans Memorial Drive
• Right on Crawford Street
• Right on Erie Street
• Right on 9th Court Wylam/36th Street

Another alternative is to continue on Avenue C, then Left turn on Port Birmingham Road, Left turn on Slayden Avenue, Left turn on Indiana Street, Left turn on 7th Ave, Right turn on Erie Street, Left turn on 9th Court/36th Street.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ronald K.S. Wilson, P.E. via phone at (205) 297-5175 or e-mail [email protected].