Leveraging a long-standing relationship with the Florida Department of Transportation and proven expertise in complex movable bridge projects, PCL was enlisted to enhance the safety and reliability of the Sheridan Street Bridge. The bridge, which crosses the intra-coastal waterway in Hollywood, Florida, is one of the main transportation routes that connects the mainland to the Hollywood Beach barrier island. This rehabilitation project involved comprehensive repairs to the two-leaf bascule bridge, including electrical and mechanical system upgrades, structural steel improvements and the installation of new access platforms and railings. Construction also included replacing the emergency generator system and submarine cables, cleaning and coating the superstructure, applying an epoxy overlay, repairing cracks, updating traffic and pedestrian railings, and making signalization and pavement enhancements.

While rehabilitation projects for movable bridges are common due to the heavy wear and tear the bridges experience, this project was notable for the extensive scope of work that the PCL team self-performed. These self-performed scopes included concrete, structural steel replacement, span lock and live load shoe replacement, hydraulic power unit demolition, counterweight adjustments, and the installation of traffic and pedestrian railing, sidewalk and bicycle plates, and a bridge access platform.

One of the major challenges encountered during construction was the discovery of a "twist" in the bascule leaves (part of the structure that “opens up” to allow boating traffic through) after the replacement of structural components, leading to a misalignment in the bridge. This issue, which could have compromised driving conditions, was resolved through collaborative efforts with the engineering team. PCL removed obsolete bridge components, adjusted counterweights, and meticulously shimmed the span locks and live load shoes to ensure reliable and smooth bridge operation.

Throughout this project, which required a 90-day road closure, the PCL team also had to navigate the impacts to vehicular and marine traffic. The team coordinated with the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure effective marine traffic management, operating the bridge with a single leaf unless a dual-leaf operation was requested. Additionally, PCL installed a gasoline-powered temporary hydraulic power unit (HPU) to maintain bridge operability for marine traffic during the replacement of the main power service and HPU.

Despite the unforeseen conditions discovered during construction, PCL successfully completed the project on schedule, meeting the client’s expectations for timely delivery. This project stands as a testament to PCL's ability to handle complex infrastructure challenges, delivering high-quality results while maintaining safety and efficiency.