Ashdown Road, a major thoroughfare for Clifton Park, now boasts a new bridge overlooking the town’s railway. Many engineers in New York are involved in the reconstruction and repair of bridges throughout the area to ensure the new structures are secure and last long into the future. The team also focuses on keeping civilians safe and minimizing disruption to railroad traffic as reconstruction takes place. When it came to discussing the corrosion protection of the bridge girders, one method stood out as the best method of shielding the community’s investment: hot-dip galvanizing.

The Ashdown Road project consisted of eight girders, four at 68’-0” and four at 93’-0”. This massive amount of material required a galvanizer that could handle the size with its kettle capacity. STS Steel contacted the galvanizer of the project early in the design stage to confirm that the team could take on the challenge of dipping material this length. It was also important to the county to construct the bridge with hot-dip galvanized long span beams to secure its longevity for many years.

Hot-dip galvanized steel was chosen for its durability, minimal impact on the environment and its extended service life. Because of the corrosion protection that HDG provides, maintenance of the bridge would be virtually non-existent. Any other paint method would corrode or chip away with weathering. Not only would this risk civilian safety in the community, but it would require shutdowns and increase the lifecycle cost of the project. The transition to hot-dip galvanized steel in bridge rehabilitations assures that these structures will remain corrosion free for years to come with no additional investment or work required.

Throughout the course of the project, smooth communication across the team was vital in addressing challenges as they occurred. Delays in acquiring materials through the general supply chain, along with labor shortages caused the timeline to shift. The galvanizer was able to meet all deadlines set by the customer and provide quality product within their budget.

The new Ashdown Road overlooking the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed in 2022. Since galvanizing was chosen for the structure, it will stand strong for many years while serving residents and commuters of Clifton Park.