The LaBelle Draw Bridge (also locally known as the State Road 29 Bridge) is a 28 feet tall, two-lane drawbridge located in the historical district of the town of LaBelle.
The retrofit consisted of replacement of all mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components, as well as replacing the stringers, cover plates, live load shoes, span locks, counterweights, bearing pads and adding stiffener plates to the main leaves for beam strengthening.
The existing connections to all structural members consisted of over 2000 rivets that had to be replaced with high strength bolts and torqued to specifications. The bridge decking was also replaced with new metal gauge cribbing and light-weight concrete. The fender system was also upgraded and brought up to code with new fenders and connections.
After completion, the structural components were carefully stripped of the existing lead-based paint and re-coated to meet new specifications. All substructure components received a new Class V finish. The existing traffic signal arms where also removed and upgraded. The project also consisted of a new linear park with sidewalks and hand railing.
The project entails repairing and rehabilitating the drawbridge. Currently, overweight vehicles are not permitted to use the bridge; these scheduled improvements will allow trucks to use the bridge, shorten their travel distances, and improve travel times.
