R.J. Watson supplied 116 Disktron Bearings for the I-495 Ramp and Mainline Structure in North Bergen, NJ
Construction moves along on the I-495 Ramp and mainline structure over Patterson Plank Road in North Bergen, NJ. The IEW team along with design engineer GPI and construction engineer Jacobs Group are working on a $92 Million retrofit to the structure built in 1938, which is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2021.
The I-495 ramp structure is unique because the steel columns have disk bearings at the base. TC bolts were also used on the columns which look like rivets from the original bridge.
The mainline 1200 foot span has disktron bearings at the hinge, and also below on the girder that is below the hinge. This is designed as a redundant girder to catch the bridge if the hinge were to fail. The hinge bearings have a rectangular disk and the lower catch bearings have an impact pad on top of the upper bearing plate.