Buffalo Skyway Bearing Replacement

Challenge: Bearings on the aged highway structure were corroded and required replacement to extend the life of the bridge. Complexity involved the need to raise the bridge deck off the bearings while keeping the roadway in service. The bearings were located 90 feet above the local grade.

Solutions: The scheme for the jacking frame involved an array of high-strength scaffolding nested together and positioned over a grillage of steel beams and hydraulic jacks.

Results: The jacking system was assembled from rented equipment and the steel and hydraulic equipment was common from the heavy lifting industry. The adjustability in the jacking pressure allowed the existing concrete deck to be raised on a minimal slope without causing stress cracks.