The John A. Roebling Bridge is an iconic landmark and engineering accomplishment that has been serving as a major thoroughfare over the Ohio River since 1866. The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, who is most known for designing the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, NY.
The bridge has undergone several restoration projects since its original construction. Falling debris caused multiple closures within a few months of each other in 2018. Due to safety concerns, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and representatives of the State Historic Preservation Office worked together to repair and preserve the bridge for generations to come. AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm, was hired to preserve the bridge. AECOM selected THP Limited as a subconsultant to review the bridge’s sandstone and develop repair recommendations.
THP Limited’s scope of work for the $4.7 million restoration project included rappelling the 155-year-old bridge to inspect the condition of its towers and provided repair recommendations. Phase I repairs were concentrated to the upper 25 feet of the towers and repairs to one of the cable anchorage houses. Repairs also included masonry patches at the bridge towers, waterproofing the anchorages, and masonry repairs at the roof railings.