September 7, 2012

Mr. William J. Martin, Borough Manager Borough of Narberth 100 Conway Avenue Narberth, PA 19072

REFERENCE:

Narberth Avenue over Amtrak, Narberth Borough BMS No. 46 7412 0370 0017

Dear Mr. Martin: On September 4, 2012 after over a week of intense fieldwork, we completed the hands on routine inspection of the Narberth Avenue Bridge. Our findings included a number of floorbeams with holes in the webs at or in the shear zones. Additionally, the bottom flanges of numerous beams have advanced section loss. During our inspection of spans 1 and 3, a significant amount of water, which is likely contaminated with chlorides, was observed leaking through the deck onto the floorbeams and deck girders. We observed that the delaminated areas of the floorbeams have been trapping and holding the water likely contributing to the accelerated deterioration of the floorbeams. Floorbeams 1, 3, 5, 19, 20, 21, and 22 have holes, which according to the Pub 100A, requires a priority 0 maintenance recommendation. Of these seven beams, Floorbeams 5, 19, 20, and 22 may be mitigated to a priority 1 if load rating analysis provides a capacity greater than the present posted load capacity of the bridge please note that the current posting of 9 tons is controlled by the deck. The right deck girder in span 1 has heavy section loss to the web at the near abutment. The left through girder in span 2 has heavy delamination and section loss to the web. The delamination is very hard in these areas and at this time is difficult to remove with hand tools provided the limited time available with AMTRAK’s Catenary Car. The supports welded to the top flanges of the floorbeam overhang beams have serious section loss and require closure of the sidewalks. The left sidewalk of span 3 was repaired in a previous sidewalk repair. The priority 0 repairs could be completed and/or an analysis performed to prove that the beams can carry the present bridge load capacity of 9 Tons, but please understand that our experience has found that bridges with this level of deterioration exhibit an increased rate of deterioration due to the contamination of the steel from years of roadway salt infiltration and the structural steel members that warrant a priority 1 repair today could become priority 0 at the next scheduled inspection. If any of the priority 0 floorbeams are mitigated to a priority 1 due to analysis, the inspection frequency will be changed to 6 months as required by Pub 238 for fracture critical members with holes in the member. The following Critical Priority Maintenance Items are recommended, and in accordance with PennDOT Publication 238, the Borough of Narberth should complete the listed maintenance items before re-opening the bridge.      

Repair/Replace the deteriorated Floorbeams 1, 3, and 5 and 19-22 that have 100% section loss to the webs and/or flanges. (7 EA) Repair the failed W-beam sidewalk supports over the cantilevered floorbeams in the left and right sides of span 1 and the right side of span 3. (6 EA) If repairs to the bridge are completed and the load capacity is revised, replace the 9 Ton Weight Limit signs with new Weight Limit signs. (5 EA) Install a standard 200 FEET AHEAD distance sign below the WEIGHT LIMIT sign at the near advance intersection with Woodside Avenue. The bottom of the distance sign should be 7’ above the sidewalk. (1 EA) Straighten the leaning near approach posting sign. (1 EA) Relocate the far approach posting to within 25’ of the bridge. Straighten the currently leaning post and repair/replace the bent WEIGHT LIMIT. The bottom of the weight limit sign should be 7’ above the sidewalk. (1 EA)

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Relocate the far advance posting to the correct (south) side of Haverford Avenue. The sign should be mounted to a breakaway post and within 25’ of the intersection. A BRIDGE sign should be installed above and a 300 FEET AHEAD sign should be installed below the WEIGHT LIMIT sign. The bottom of the distance sign should be 7’ above the sidewalk. (1 EA) Repair/Replace the bent BRIDGE sign at the supplemental far advance posting on Haverford Avenue. Install 300 FEET AHEAD and a left arrow signs below the WEIGHT LIMIT. Relocate the No Parking and SEPTA Bus signs to their own post. (1 EA)

In addition, the following High Priority Maintenance Items are recommended, and in accordance with PennDOT Publication 238, the Borough of Narberth should complete the listed maintenance items within six months.    

Repair deteriorated floorbeams 2 and 4. If any of the Priority 0 floorbeams are mitigated to a Priority 1 through structural analysis, include them in this line also. (2 EA) Repair the open transverse cracking along both deck transitions allowing water onto the floorbeams and girders at the ends of the bridge. (40 LF) Repair/Replace the deteriorated Span 1 right girder and Span 2 left girder that have heavy section loss to the webs over the bearings. (2 EA) Install structure mounted guiderail across the bridge to protect the fracture critical girders. (218 LF)

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Top Left: Span 1 left sidewalk W-beam over Floorbeam 1. Top Right: Span 3 right sidewalk W-beam over Floorbeam 20. Bottom Left: Floorbeam 1 right end over right girder. Bottom Right: Floorbeam 1 right half.

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Top Left: Floorbeam 2 far face right end. Top Right: Floorbeam 3 near face right end. Bottom Left: Floorbeam 3 bottom flange right end. Bottom Right: Floorbeam 3 near face right end below sidewalk.

September 7, 2012 Page 5

Top Left: Floorbeam 4 near face right end. Top Right: Floorbeam 5 near face left end. Bottom Left: Floorbeam 5 far face left end. Bottom Right: Floorbeam 19 far face left end.

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Top Left: Floorbeam 19 far face right end. Top Right: Floorbeam 20 near face left end. Bottom Left: Floorbeam 21 far face right end. Bottom Right: Floorbeam 22 near face right end.

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Top Left: Floorbeam 22 near face right end below sidewalk. Top Right: Right girder over near abutment. Bottom Left: Left girder interior at midspan in Span 2. Bottom Right: Left girder exterior at midspan in Span 2.

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Top Left: Near transition looking right. Top Right: Far transition looking right. Bottom Left: Near advance posting at Woodside Avenue. Bottom Right: Near approach posting.

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Top Left: Far approach posting. Top Right: Far advance posting at Haverford Avenue. Bottom Left: Supplemental far advance posting at Haverford Avenue. Bottom Right: FB20, Near right, water soaked beam. Heavy efflorescence in deck.

September 7, 2012 Page 10

A Bridge Posting Sheet and copies of the standard signs from PennDOT Publication 236, Handbook of Approved Signs, are attached for your use. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to call me or Jennifer Payne-McAleer at 610-640-3500. Sincerely,

John Fitzsimmons, P.E. Project Engineer Pc:

R. Gundel, PennDOT District 6-0 Steve Bartkovich, PennDOT District 6-0 Steve Benner, PennDOT District 6-0 W. Ahola, P.E., AECOM S. G. Martin, P.E., McCormick Taylor, Inc. J. S. Payne-McAleer, E.I., McCormick Taylor, Inc. C. Suhoskey, P.E., Pennoni