State Route 273 (SR-273), a 16-mile north–south route in northeastern Alabama, is a critical corridor for residents and first responders. When the century-old bridge carrying SR-273 traffic over Daniels Branch, north of Leesville, reached the end of its service life, it was slated for replacement. Despite its modest population and rural location in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, closing the bridge during construction would have required a 40-mile detour, significantly inconveniencing the local community and delaying emergency response. Without a feasible, alternate route and to maintain safe, reliable access throughout the replacement project, a temporary detour bridge installation was necessary, and a Mabey Universal bridge from Acrow was selected.

Acrow’s modular steel structure measures 140 feet (42.67m) in length with a two-lane roadway width of 24 feet (7.35m). Featuring an asphalt overlay deck and designed to AASHTO HS20-44, the bridge was supplied to contractor McInnis Construction. It was assembled on site and then installed adjacent to the existing crossing using a crane-assisted launch.

Traffic was successfully switched onto the temporary detour bridge in November 2025. Following demolition of the original structure, construction of the replacement bridge is expected to be completed in late 2026, at which point the detour bridge will be removed. A proven, cost-effective solution for maintaining traffic during bridge rehabilitation or replacement projects,

Acrow’s temporary bridge solutions can reduce construction impacts and help keep projects on or ahead of schedule. In locations where detour options are limited, Acrow’s versatile systems provide a safe and reliable way to keep traffic and communities moving throughout project delivery.