Integrating Water and Sanitary Infrastructure in Major Bridge Replacement: King Avenue Crossing, Warren County, Ohio

The replacement of the King Avenue/Grandin Road bridge over the Little Miami River in Warren County, Ohio, showcases an innovative approach to integrating water and sanitary infrastructure improvements with major bridge projects. Led by Stantec for the Warren County Engineer's Office in conjunction with the Warren County Water and Sewer Department (WCWS), this project replaced a challenging six-span structure with a new 515-ft, two-span bridge designed to accommodate both improved traffic flow and critical utility upgrades. A key feature of this project was the incorporation of new water and sanitary sewer lines into the bridge structure, enabling the expansion of the local water network and the elimination of an existing sanitary lift station. This integration required careful coordination between structural and pipeline engineering teams to address challenges such as load factors, thermal expansion, and maintenance access. This paper describes the design considerations, implementation strategies, and cost-benefit analysis of integrating utility lines within bridge structures. The King Avenue Crossing project serves as a case study in maximizing public infrastructure investments by combining multiple improvements into a single project, offering insights applicable to future bridge and pipeline projects.