Benjamin Franklin Bridge South Walkway & Pedestrian Ramp

JMT provided construction monitoring services on a $7.8 million project to replace a portion of the existing walkway and stairway located on the south side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, NJ with a new ramp approximately 773 feet long.

The new bicycle and pedestrian ramp rises above an active Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) transit line track, which runs between Philadelphia and Camden. Temporary shielding was constructed around the train envelope and served as a debris shield and a working platform.

Work included demolition of existing walkway and stairway, drilled shaft foundations, concrete substructures, structural steel erection, painting existing structural steel, cast-in-place concrete deck and approach slab, ornamental railing installation, utility relocations, new lighting, signage, and fencing.
JMT reviewed the contractor’s schedule updates and submittals regarding the contractor’s means and methods of performing the work, then tracked and coordinated with the design engineer for review of submittals related to project design. Two full-time inspectors were on site daily monitoring the work performed, ensuring the project was completed safely and on time.

JMT’s management team coordinated with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge maintenance personnel to schedule required lane closures on the bridge, Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Police to facilitate safe mobilization and demobilization of bridge lane closures, PATCO Way and Power personnel to schedule track outages, flagmen and speed restrictions, the Camden Fire Department, Rutgers Campus, and the City of Camden to coordinate Third Street and Pearl Street road closures.

The project was awarded the New Jersey Leading Infrastructure Project Award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action.