Transtec Group provides innovative pavement design for Port Corpus Christi bridge
Austin-based pavement engineering firm The Transtec Group provided pavement design expertise to Flatiron-Dragados, LLC regarding the new Harbour Bridge project in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) determined that US 181 and the Harbour Bridge needed to be improved in order to maintain a safe and efficient transportation corridor. The existing bridge had safety issues associated with the lack of shoulders, steep grade, a reverse curve, and an accident rate that was higher than the state-wide average.
Corpus Christi is one of the largest ports in the US, docking tens of millions of tons annually. The bridge’s 138 feet of navigational clearance, which met World War II standards decades ago, needed to be enlarged in order to accommodate modern ships. A new bridge would enable TxDOT to improve both safety and transportation, meeting traffic demands and broadening economic development opportunities for the Port of Corpus Christi.
The design-build project includes replacement of the existing Harbour Bridge and reconstruction of portions of US 181, I-37 and the Crosstown Expressway—a total of 6.44 miles of bridge and connecting roadway.
The bridge will include six-lane sections of US 181; three lanes in each direction with a median barrier, shoulders, and a bicycle and pedestrian shared-use path. Additionally, the project includes the reconstruction of approximately 1.6 miles of I-37, reconstruction of approximately 1 mile of the Crosstown Expressway, and demolition of the existing Harbour Bridge.
This approximately $1 billion bridge project also has 8 miles of new and rehabilitated pavement for the main lanes, frontage roads and city streets.
As is common on design-build projects, the developer is most interested in reducing upfront costs while simultaneously meeting TxDOT requirements.
“Transtec’s knowledge of local pavement practices and TxDOT requirements combined with their understanding of the developer’s desires led to expedited yet quality decision-making which benefited the overall project,” said Dexter Bacon, Chief Engineer with Intertek-PSI, the Geotechnical Engineer for the project.
Bacon continues, “We were very pleased that Transtec was always available for meetings to discuss the pros and cons of various pavement approaches.”
It was important for Transtec to produce effective design plans in a timely manner that both suited the needs of the developer and TxDOT. After presenting multiple options for the pavement design with various risk and reward factors, asphalt was the final recommendation and the proposal was approved. Transtec optimized meeting time by coming to the table prepared with the right answer and a proper model for design. Eliminating the need to research, back-check, and schedule excessive follow-up meetings expedited the process and proved to be cost-effective.
Transtec’s previous local experience and knowledge with pavement design resulted in cost-effective designs, incorporating previous experience from past design-build projects like the nearby US 77 Kingsville to Driscoll project
in Texas.
“We could not be more pleased with their performance on this project and look forward to working with the Transtec Group in the future,” said Bacon.
