Charter Oak Bridge, I-91 Interchange 29 Flyover Bridge

Originally constructed in 1940, the Charter Oak Bridge — a.k.a. “the congestion buster” — is a major steel bridge that crosses the Connecticut River and connects downtown Hartford with East Hartford. The three-year, $240 million project involved three heavily traveled roadways and 22 bridges. To connect I-91, I-84, and Route 2 in East Hartford, this route is critical.

CHA’s final design addressed significant safety issues and operational performances, all centered around our innovative reconstruction of Exit 29. The new configuration includes a left-hand, high-speed, two-lane diverging ramp that often requires a complex straddle bent structure. But our team offered a unique solution for this straddle bent design: the “Load Path Redundant Member” (LPRM) approach. The LPRM approach eliminated the fracture-critical designation and special long-term inspection requirements. The final result? Improved safety and reduced construction and maintenance costs.