(Shore Daily News)
By Linda Cicoira
Kokosing Construction Co., a multi-state operation, recently announced the start of its project to design and build a replacement causeway road and bridge at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
According to contract details, the cost was estimated at $62,395,600 and has since been increased by 1 percent to $63,270,600 or by $875,000.
The bridge will go over Cat Creek and replace the existing structure, built in 1959-1960. The existing structure “is nearing the end of its service life,” the announcement on Instagram stated.
“Design partner, WSP USA, (an engineering firm), is incorporating durable materials to maximize service life and protect the structure from the aggressive coastal, and marine environment of the Virginia barrier islands,” the announcement continued. “We will utilize a top-down construction methodology to minimize the environmental impacts to adjacent tidal wetland areas.”
The road is the only access to that portion of the NASA facility, making it critical to daily operations. Construction is expected to begin in early 2025 and be completed in early 2029.
I remember when the existing bridge was built. My uncle was an engineer for Bendix in the early days of NASA and helped develop the Echo series of inflatable target satellites. I still have some scraps left lover from their construction described as "mylar covered aluminum". It was extremely thin but very strong.
I can even remember when there was no bridge and staff and workers had to take a ferry to get to Wallops Island. The ferry landing is still there and can be found by taking Metompkin Road out of Assawoman, turning left on Pettit Road and another left on Pierce Taylor Road and following to the end. My father worked there at one time as a dump truck driver during the initial construction phase.
Your friend,
Slim
1 comment:
I remember when the existing bridge was built. My uncle was an engineer for Bendix in the early days of NASA and helped develop the Echo series of inflatable target satellites. I still have some scraps left lover from their construction described as "mylar covered aluminum". It was extremely thin but very strong.
I can even remember when there was no bridge and staff and workers had to take a ferry to get to Wallops Island. The ferry landing is still there and can be found by taking Metompkin Road out of Assawoman, turning left on Pettit Road and another left on Pierce Taylor Road and following to the end. My father worked there at one time as a dump truck driver during the initial construction phase.
Your friend,
Slim
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