Atlas Evaluation & Inspection Services (AEIS), has completed inspection and testing for New Jersey Department of Transportation’s new Wittpenn Bridge, a vertical-lift bridge that extends New Jersey Route 7 over the Hackensack River, connecting Jersey City and Kearny, NJ.

The bridge represents the state’s first orthotropic bridge deck, a lightweight structural steel deck plate featuring longitudinal ribs and transverse floor beams under a wearing-surface covered steel plate. An orthotropic design offers greater structural efficiency due to reduced need for concrete as well as a 100-year life span.

A1EIS performed testing and inspections, including visual and nondestructive testing (NDT) on the newly-created bridge. AEIS also completed welding inspections on the two orthotropic deck splices which run the length of the lift span.

The original Wittpenn Bridge, named for former Jersey City Mayor H. Otto Wittpenn, was structurally deficient and functionally obsolete at over 90 years old. The new Wittpenn Bridge, constructed approximately 200 feet north of the original bridge, is slated for completion in early 2023.

“We are proud to have partnered with the general contractor CCA Civil and its structural steel partner Northeast Structural Steel to complete inspection and testing of the new, state-of-the-art Wittpenn Bridge,” stated Nagesh Goel, President and Co-Founder of AEIS. “AEIS specializes in testing and inspection with significant experience working on some of the area’s most important bridges and large infrastructure projects, with a goal of optimizing safety and meeting code.”

Among the benefits of the new Wittpenn Bridge include additional traffic lanes; wider lanes; new east and west approaches; improved connections to Routes 1 & 9 in Jersey City; increased vertical clearance over the Hackensack River; and greater motorist safety and efficiency. Additionally, the new bridge will serve pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

“Serving as a key corridor into New York City, the existing Wittpenn Bridge was almost a century old and needed to be updated for the 21^st century,” stated Pablo Lemus, Project Manager and Assistant President, CCA Civil.  “Serving an estimated 50,000 vehicles per day, the new bridge will be an important part of the state’s infrastructure and will increase travel efficiency for both vehicular and marine traffic and improve safety for all. Our company’s mission to provide win-win outcomes and bring the highest value to our clients and communities, realized through partnering with inspection experts in order to ensure safety and quality for each and every project.”

The new Wittpenn Bridge included the construction of a new vertical lift span, the associated steel lift towers, a control system and road approaches.

“The new Wittpenn Bridge will improve transportation conditions for years to come,” stated Karl Plattner of Northeast Structural Steel. “It is imperative that a large bridge project have an experienced inspection team like AEIS to perform inspection and testing to ensure the final product is built according to the owner’s specifications—while ensuring an optimal level of safety.”

Inspection, testing and certification are essential tools to create greater safety of structures in service and successful project outcomes.

More about AEIS

Atlas Evaluation & Inspection Services (AEIS) is a premier infrastructure inspection, evaluation and testing agency based in South Plainfield, NJ. AEIS provides a variety of services for inspection, testing, failure analysis, engineering and research of materials. Our strength comes from skilled and qualified personnel using calibrated and adequate inspection equipment while working under the supervision of highly qualified and conscientious management. Clients benefit from online access to expeditious reports and deficiency logs provides you the tools necessary to expedite activities on their projects. Every project, regardless of size or scope, adheres to a robust quality assurance program, and we employ the latest technology to schedule and report all our inspections and tests. This ensures streamlined workflow both for the employee and the client. We strive to understand and anticipate the needs of our clients. We believe in being proactive and in fulfilling all tasks in the most effective way possible while managing resources in our client’s best interest. AEIS is also a certified Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Small, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.