Bridge girders installed for Huntsville Brownsferry Road widening

—

August 19, 2024

Cranes move a heavy concrete girder into position on the relief bridge east of Swan Creek on Alabama 304/Huntsville Brownsferry Road on Friday, (ALDOT Photo)

ATHENS — Contractors installed the last set of bridge girders on the Alabama Highway 304/Huntsville Brownsferry Road widening project Friday in Limestone County.

The $13.3 million Rebuild Alabama project is transforming more than a mile of the former two-lane county road between U.S. 31 and I-65 into a five-lane state route. The project includes construction of two bridges at Swan Creek and a four-barrel bridge culvert at Old Schoolhouse Branch.

Girders installed

All girders – large beams to support the bridge deck — are now in place on both bridges. Cranes lifted and set the last six concrete girders on the relief bridge east of Swan Creek on Friday.

Metal forms between concrete girder. A truck in the background, — Construction of the bridge over Swan Creek is more progressed than the relief bridge to the east. Metal forms to support the future concrete bridge deck have already been installed between the girders. Traffic can be seen on the south half of the bridge, which was constructed during the first phase of the project.

Sequence of construction

The south (future eastbound) half of the roadway, including half of each bridge or culvert, was substantially completed and opened to two-way traffic last fall. The old road was then closed, and contractors have since demolished the old pavement and bridges. They are now in the process of constructing the roadbed and bridges for the north (future westbound) half of the roadway.

The bridge at Swan Creek — The bridge under construction at Swan Creek. The long, horizontal beam is a girder. Girders rest on the cap above the bridge pier (visible at the edge of the creek) and support the deck, or riding surface, of the bridge.

Workers position boards and plywood on top of a large concrete structure. — Workers construct forms for a future concrete pour to add the top to a large bridge culvert at Old Schoolhouse Branch on SR-304/Huntsville Brownsferry Road.

Completion of the project is anticipated by next spring.

The overpass on Alabama 304 at I-65 Exit 347 was widened in an earlier, $2.8 million project.

Recent in Construction

Six Alabama A&M students receive $10,000 Turner Construction scholarships

Alabama A&M University — 2 weeks ago

NORMAL — Turner Construction has awarded $10,000 scholarships to six Alabama A&M University students majoring in civil engineering and construction management for the spring and fall 2026 semesters. The awards continue […]

‘Building trust’: Ridgeline Construction earns Silver at Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards

Bud McLaughlin — November 26, 2025

ATHENS — To say that Ridgeline Construction Roofing and Exteriors is building on success is putting it mildly. It’s also not enough to say the roofing company has reached the […]