A 45-ft-tall, 385-ft-long three-span bridge over the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal in North Buckeye provides a new way to cross the waterway and increases access for the local community. Scope of work on this $12.4-million project included installing 33 girders—11 in each span—1,300 cu yd of concrete for the bridge deck and a 250-ft-long equipment pass box culvert. Given the site’s location, the only way to access the north side of the project was at the closest canal crossing, 1.5 miles to the west. This required strategic planning and scheduling to minimize equipment mobilization and maximize work efficiency.

Planning with trade partners optimized mobilization logistics for the two 550-ton cranes that were brought in with 19 transport trucks each and then assembled on site—one on each side of the canal.

To set the girders for the middle span, the two cranes worked in tandem, handing off the girders from one to the other to place them over the canal.

Photo by Ronnie Dale Louis

Scope also included placing 2,000 linear ft of 16-in. ductile iron pipe waterline—with 385 ft of the waterline suspended under the bridge—paving 11,000 sq yd of asphalt and building 12 retaining walls to support the infrastructure.

Constructing the bridge over the canal’s open waters required additional safety measures. The team implemented specialized protocols, including a safety line crossing the canal downstream of the bridge equipped with buoys to serve as a visual and physical barrier. Employees working over water wore self-inflating life preservers in addition to standard fall protection harnesses.

Proactive community outreach ensured that the surrounding neighbors were well-informed about all construction activities. With a housing community located on the south end of the project, the contractor coordinated closely with the homeowners’ association and held regular meetings to discuss project updates.

Collaboration with CAP authorities was vital to ensure that construction activities did not compromise the canal at any point. Completed in July 2023, the bridge is playing a crucial role in connecting the community and providing much needed access for a future development.