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Bids Sought for Cape Cod Bridge Painting

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is inviting bids for cleaning and recoating of Massachusetts’ Sagamore Bridge over Cape Cod Canal—a contract estimated at up to $10 million.

The three-span, steel arch bridge is 1,408 feet long and 51 feet wide with a suspended deck about 135 feet above high water at mid-span.

The Sagamore Bridge carries U.S. Route 6 across the Cape Cod Canal, connecting Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts.

Facebook / Cape Cod Senior Connection

The Sagamore Bridge connects Cape Cod with the rest of Massachusetts over the Cape Cod Canal.

The Public Works Administration began work on the bridge and its sibling, the Bourne Bridge, in 1933 for the Corps of Engineers, which operates both the bridges and the canal. Both bridges opened in 1935.

In May 2010, the Corps of Engineers completed replacement of the bridge deck, sidewalk and lighting.

Scope of Work

The project involves abrasive-blast cleaning about 5,100 tons of steel to SSPC-SP 6 (commercial), spot power-tool cleaning the superstructure to bare metal (SP 11), and coating it with a four-coat moisture-cured polyurethane system.

The work will also include pressure-washing and coating two jacking girders with a calcium sulfonate system. The existing coatings contain red lead primer; Class 2A containment according to SSPC-Guide 6 will be required, as will SSPC-QP 1 and QP 2 certifications.

This project also includes miscellaneous structural steel repairs that are generally limited to replacement of deteriorated lacing bars and rivets. New steel components are to be connected with high-strength bolts.

The work will take place over five to seven months in 2013, after ongoing steel repairs are completed. Bids will be accepted July 25.

Reported by Paint BidTracker, a construction reporting service devoted to identifying contracting opportunities for the coatings community. Visit us on Facebook!

Comment from Lubomir Jancovic, (7/18/2012, 3:54 AM)

Way isn't use corrosive resistent pure of zinc thermal spray coating and bariere pure of aluminum thermal spray coating, if combine coat 8 mill pure of zinc and 16 mill pure of aluminum protecting surface of steel from rust 50 and more years with no other maintenance? Shut by save a milions of dolars, which where guvernment spend for maintenance, changing rusted parts and recoating?

Comment from Gary OConnor, (7/23/2012, 10:26 AM)

While metallizing has some great applications on smaller structures and parts the added cost of additional surface preparation, additional inspection costs and production make that method unreasonable. Additionally, it would reduce the number of bidders. Good thought, though.

Comment from Gerald Burbank, (7/24/2012, 8:00 AM)

This is a complicated structure with numerous lattice bars and intricate shapes. Metalizing isn't feasible, regardless of costs. I managed the application of inorganic zinc, epoxy and urethan on a similar project over 26 years ago. That project is in a sea coast marine environment, over brackish water and is just now being recoated. If the owner had specified stripe coating on the edges, then they probably could have gotten another 10 to 15 years out of the system before first maintenance. Considering the cost savings when compared to metalizing (even if it could be properly applied), the up front savings accrued to the owner for a properly applied zinc, epoxy and urethane system should more than pay for maintenance to last fifty years.

Comment from Tom Schwerdt, (7/24/2012, 8:12 AM)

Seems a bit odd to cut back on the blasting (SP10 would be more common) and then go to the expense of a 4th coat of paint (3 would be more common, FHWA keeps pushing toward 1 or 2 coats)

Comment from Gerald Burbank, (7/25/2012, 7:34 AM)

I agree. SP-10 would give them a much better job and wouldn't add much at the price.