Description of Services
This project involved an independent structural review of the Arthur DiTomasso Bridge, a 300-foot main span cable-stayed structure located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The bridge spans both the Nashua River and the Boston and Maine Railroad tracks, with a 45-foot-wide deck accommodating two lanes of traffic.
Principal Engineer, Sena Kumarasena, Ph.D., P.E., served as the Project Manager and Technical Lead for the review, which was commissioned by MassDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in response to concerns over premature concrete cracking and significant deviations in cable forces from the original design predictions. The scope of work included a detailed field survey of observed structural distress, a comprehensive as-built structural analysis, and a full evaluation of all major bridge components to assess safety and long-term performance. The findings supported informed decision-making by the agencies regarding the bridge’s structural integrity and future maintenance strategy.