SR 10 (US 90) over Yellow River Bridge Replacement

FDOT District Three needed a firm to provide ecological services for the bridge replacement project. The project challenges included scour, constructability issues with shallow water depths, existing remnant pile removal and environmental constraints due to the presence of critical habitat within the project area. 

DRMP prepared PD&E documentation, designed and permitted the replacement of the existing 1,617-foot bridge over the Yellow River, which is considered a navigable sovereign submerged land.  The DRMP team prepared a biological assessment report that included the mussel relocation plan and obtained a Biological Opinion (BO) from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the Gulf sturgeon, its critical habitat and three species of freshwater mussels.  In addition to the mussel relocation plan, these sensitive areas required the development of construction plans with methods that would not impact the Gulf sturgeon during the migration season.  DRMP also obtained permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to ensure the project would move forward with construction.

FDOT District Three and Okaloosa County, Florida residents will benefit from the new bridge’s enhanced lifespan and structural strength.  The environmental documentation and early agency coordination provided the client with the necessary detailed information to streamline permitting process after the project was approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).