Progress Continues on the Judge J. Frank Graff Bridge Preservation Project

Since June of 2025, Advantage Steel and Construction has been hard at work on the Graff Bridge Preservation project in Kittanning, PA. Advantage Steel is serving as a subcontractor to Swank Construction on this project being completed for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 10. This project involves the rehabilitation of Judge J Graff Bridge (SR 422) over the Allegheny River, Ramp D (Ford City exit ramp), and Infantry Bridge (SR 66).

Advantage Steel is under contract to complete the following work on the project:

• Various types of structural steel repairs

• Bridge superstructure jacking at over 150 locations

• 150+ bearing replacements

• Installing over 60,000 pounds of structural steel in the form of new pier inspection walkways on the Infantry Bridge (SR66) and Ramp D

• Installation of over 40,000 shear connectors

• Removal and replacement of the damaged girder

• Removal of over 400 tack welds

Advantage Steel’s most complex efforts have involved jacking the bridge superstructure and removing and replacing bearings on the SR66 structure. Advantage has used jacking diaphragms and large-capacity hydraulic cylinder jacks to lift girders and to remove and replace the existing bearings. These works are a testament to Advantage Steel's experience and expertise in bridge jacking operations.

To date on this project, Advantage has completed girder jacking and bearing replacements at nearly 100 locations, removed and replaced damaged girders, installed more than 25,000 shear connectors, and removed all tack welds on the Graff Bridge. A large portion of Advantage Steel’s remaining work involves installing the new pier inspection walkways on SR66 and Ramp D.

The Graff Bridge Preservation project has been an opportunity for Advantage Steel to showcase its skills across many areas of bridge rehabilitation, and we look forward to finishing strong in the coming months.

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One year ago, Advantage Steel & Construction successfully slid the first bridge into place on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for Brayman Construction Corporation and the PA Turnpike Commission. A lot of hard work and planning allowed for this successful award winning project.

The new superstructures were built off-line and laterally slid into position during a 55-hour weekend closure. During the closure crews worked around the clock to demolish the existing superstructure, make required repairs to the beam seats of the existing substructure, laterally slide in the new superstructures, and reconstruct the roadway.