Buquet Bridge
The Buquet Bridge is a movable swing bridge in Louisiana that rotates horizontally to allow marine traffic to pass. MCS fabricated a specialized replacement grid deck from weathering steel using existing LB Foster drawings, combining open grid with selected fully filled sections and extensive quality documentation.
The Challenge
Every one of the 15 deck panels was unique, requiring precise fabrication and tight quality control. The deck was primarily open grid, but selected areas were fully filled, creating an uncommon mixed-system scope within a single bridge. The use of weathering steel added welding qualification and inspection requirements beyond standard grid work. MCS also had to satisfy Louisiana-specific approvals and produce documentation above the typical grid-deck package.
The MCS Approach
MCS quality and production teams collaborated to identify the required Procedure Qualification Record and certify welders for the weathering-steel application. A third-party inspector performed magnetic particle testing on the required welds. MCS developed the necessary compliance documentation and coordinated across fabrication, quality, and inspection to meet the project's specialized requirements.
The Outcome
The grid deck was delivered on time, the bridge was completed, and no performance issues were reported after completion. The project demonstrated MCS's ability to execute a technically demanding movable-bridge replacement involving unique materials, mixed deck configurations, and enhanced inspection requirements.
More Open Grid + Fully Filled work.
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