A public meeting was held last week for the planned new Corpus Christi harbor bridge. The web site and EIS documents are suggesting that it could be under construction starting in 2015 and done by 2020. But due to the high price tag, I'm inclined to be skeptical of that aggressive schedule.
http://ccharborbridgeproject.com/ (http://ccharborbridgeproject.com/)
The recommended alignment is the Red alignment which will take the freeway on a new 2.76-mile alignment.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foscarmail.net%2Fphotos%2FAlternatives.jpg&hash=2e43675fff43955474e6e752a4444750e6e472f7)
The Red option has an impressive vertical clearance of 216 feet, which will place it among the highest vertical clearance bridges in the United States. The main span of 1515 feet is also within 76 feet of the longest cable-stayed span in the U.S. (although not impressive by international standards). Estimated cost is $637 million for the six-lane bridge with full inner and outer shoulders.
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This may be moving forward sooner than I thought. TxDOT just posted a solicitation for an engineering management firm for the period June 2014 to August 2019.
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/profserv/notice/36-4sdp5048.pdf (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/profserv/notice/36-4sdp5048.pdf)
Description of Services to be Provided:
The Strategic Projects Division (SPD) is seeking one (1) firm to fulfill the role of General Engineering Consultant (GEC) for the management and auditing of all activities performed under a Design-Build for SH 181 (Harbor Bridge) from North of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel to South of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel located in Nueces County, Texas.
Contract Information:
Contract execution is expected by June, 2014
Contract duration is expected through August 2019.
The proposed contract payment type is cost plus fixed fee / specified rate /unit cost
In an April 30, 2015 Minute Order (http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/commission/2015/0430/7.pdf), the Texas Transportation Commission ("TTC") awarded the design-build contract for the Harbor Bridge to Flatiron/Dragados, JV. Also, an April 30, 2015 presentation by TxDOT to the TTC (http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/commission/2015/0430/7-presentation.pdf) includes this visualization of the new bridge (page 26/31 of pdf):
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This TV video (http://www.kiiitv.com/story/28946603/new-harbor-bridge-to-be-longest-cable-stayed-bridge-in-nation) reports that the new bridge will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in the U.S.
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/media-center/local-news/corpus-christi/005-2015.html
TxDOT quotes a main span length of 1,655 ft (504 m), which would indeed be the longest span cable-stayed bridge in the United States.
They also call it 'third longest in the world', but that's an error. There are at least three dozen longer cable-stayed bridges in the world, with the longest having over twice the span of the new Harbor Bridge.
Quote from: Grzrd on May 01, 2015, 02:11:11 PM
an April 30, 2015 presentation by TxDOT to the TTC (http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/commission/2015/0430/7-presentation.pdf)
An interesting option for the design-build team is the possible creation of a new southern terminus for I-37, in which the current section of I-37 from SH 286 to Mesquite Street would be converted to a low-speed arterial street (p. 2/31 of above-linked pdf):
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I'm guessing that the change would not be large enough to require new exit numbers, mileage markers, etc.
Surprise they do not make the US 181 a I-337 or something. Or make that an extension of I-37
The groundbreaking for the new bridge is planned for August 8.
http://www.caller.com/news/building-our-future/bridge/harbor-bridge-open-house-to-show-possible-bridge-modifications-35bf0f52-cf64-0fd8-e053-0100007f812b-384048031.html
Aug. 8 is the anticipated groundbreaking for the construction project, port officials said earlier this week.
So what happens to the old one? Torn down? Stays?
The old one will be demolished and the segment of freeway leading to it will be turned into a surface boulevard.
Also IH 37 may be shortened to end at the new interchange with the new Harbor Bridge.
QuoteA proposal under consideration for the Harbor Bridge design would alter the landscape by drawing Interstate 37 up to the level of South Staples Street, creating an at-grade intersection with a traffic signal and crosswalk, transportation officials have said. It's a move that, if ultimately implemented, would represent a radical departure from the interstate's profile.
Looks like this project will be delayed:
QuoteThe Texas DOT (TxDOT) recently confirmed that work on the $803 million replacement of the Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi has been suspended.
The suspension comes amid reports that the bridge's designer, FIGG Bridge Group, had been removed from the project, according to KRIS-TV.
The reports of FIGG's removal from the project come on the heels of the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) determination that the engineering firm made significant design errors that led to the fatal collapse of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge in Sweetwater, Florida.
- http://www.roadsbridges.com/texas-dot-suspends-design-work-harbor-bridge-project-corpus-christi
I'm thinking there will be a full design review, which will take time. If design changes are needed, the delay will be even longer. This may become like the heavily-delayed SH 146 bridge in Baytown in the 1980s and 1990s.
I went to the construction site in July 2018, and progress seemed to be proceeding slowly, with the approach just underway on the north end and nothing to see on the south end.
On Friday, FIGG has been removed from involvement with the main span.
https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/corpus-christi-city-council-hear-update-on-the-new-harbor-bridge-project/503-f5c5358c-2e73-4be6-adce-7f407447820c (https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/corpus-christi-city-council-hear-update-on-the-new-harbor-bridge-project/503-f5c5358c-2e73-4be6-adce-7f407447820c)
Quote
On Friday, TxDOT ordered that bridge designers FIGG Bridge Engineers be replaced for safety reasons.
There is no timeline at the moment for the completion of the $930 million Harbor Bridge project.
The project is already at least two years behind schedule.
The big take away from Tuesday's update is that work continues on the Harbor Bridge project despite the action taken against FIGG.
"That represents 1/8 of the project, if you look at the dollars, the man hours, and lineal foot, we have a lot of work to do besides the main span of the bridge," Deputy Project Manager John Palmer said.
FIGG has only been removed from future work on the main spans of the project, which is the part over the water.
In related news on January 11 the Harris County Toll Road Authority halted construction of the main pylons for the $962 million Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge. This is another FIGG-designed bridge. FIGG must submit an acceptable re-design, which will be reviewed and approved by an independent engineering firm before work will be allowed to continue. FIGG is also involved in the Veterans Memorial Bridge project in Port Arthur.
Reps from FIGG claim faulty construction, not engineering, led to the March 2018 collapse of the pedestrian bridge at Florida International University in Sweetwater, FL.
Sorry for bumping, but I thought I'd revive this post considering how the project is back in progress.
They've recently posted a few photos on Facebook about the construction process. https://m.facebook.com/HarborBridgeProject/
On a side note, the lights on the current bridge will be taken down.
Once again, I'm sorry for bumping an old post.
Quote from: Thegeet on June 09, 2021, 03:53:40 PM
Sorry for bumping, but I thought I'd revive this post considering how the project is back in progress.
They've recently posted a few photos on Facebook about the construction process. https://m.facebook.com/HarborBridgeProject/
On a side note, the lights on the current bridge will be taken down.
Once again, I'm sorry for bumping an old post.
No apology needed. This is one of only a tiny handful of really large bridge projects going on in the country.
Quote from: Thegeet on June 09, 2021, 03:53:40 PM
Sorry for bumping, but I thought I'd revive this post considering how the project is back in progress.
They've recently posted a few photos on Facebook about the construction process. https://m.facebook.com/HarborBridgeProject/
Wow didn't realize this project was so far along. Looks like quite a bit of work has been done on the approaches. I'm kicking around the idea of a solo day trip to Corpus sometime this summer, so this would be a highlight if that came to fruition.
Quote from: CoreySamson on June 18, 2021, 10:13:36 PM
Quote from: Thegeet on June 09, 2021, 03:53:40 PM
Sorry for bumping, but I thought I'd revive this post considering how the project is back in progress.
They've recently posted a few photos on Facebook about the construction process. https://m.facebook.com/HarborBridgeProject/
Wow didn't realize this project was so far along. Looks like quite a bit of work has been done on the approaches. I'm kicking around the idea of a solo day trip to Corpus sometime this summer, so this would be a highlight if that came to fruition.
This is a project that was in the talks since about 2013 or so. There was a delay due to negation of firm, and now the project is resuming the process.
Also, sorry for OT: If you do go to CC and happen to drive on I-37 SB and happen to approach exit 17, would you, if possible, be willing to take a photo or video of the new BGS on the gantry just before the exit? I heard that an I-69E sign was installed there.
Update on this project from Construction Equipment Guide:
https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/harbor-bridge-project-crews-have-productive-summer/53719
So glad they're getting rid of that horrible and dangerous 'S' curve just next to north end of the bridge....makes logical sense to straighten it out.
The northern approach of this bridge looks insane on this new GSV:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.830402,-97.386514,3a,30y,209.8h,91.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWFdysf-6IdWkg50zr5IsUQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Possibly one of the most intimidating bridges I've ever seen. This will look amazing once it's done.
I visited the construction site this past weekend. The work in progress is very impressive. The height and scale of the bridge are more impressive than the photos suggest. The towers are just above the deck, and no cables are in place yet.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220704-corpus-harbor-bridge.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220704-corpus-harbor-bridge.jpg)
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http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-03_059.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-03_059.jpg)
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http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-03_029.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-03_029.jpg)
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http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-harbor-bridge-a.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20220702-harbor-bridge-a.jpg)
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Not much to add here - two photos from June of the construction from a distance, heading south on US 181:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52161591656_1534f22d1d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ntkMVb)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52160568557_bc89128c41_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ntfxMx)
Older span for reference:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52162078785_41ff0f1229_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ntohHX)
It would be great to ask AASHTO to extend US 181 further on the Crosstown Expressway, but don't think that will happen.
Quote from: roadman65 on July 06, 2022, 07:56:12 AM
It would be great to ask AASHTO to extend US 181 further on the Crosstown Expressway, but don't think that will happen.
I would have liked that too; the Crosstown Expwy has been completed to a full freeway all the way down to FM-43 almost to Chapman Ranch (several miles south of the TX-358 interchange). Also wondering why TX-358 wasn't designated as a 3-digit auxiliary interstate (perhaps I-137) when the freeway was completed in the late 1980's all the way to (North) Padre Island. Something else that would have made a lot of sense (at least to me), was extending the US-183 designation from Refugio down to Gregory and join up with US-181/TX-35.
Quote from: jgb191 on July 09, 2022, 12:19:19 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 06, 2022, 07:56:12 AM
It would be great to ask AASHTO to extend US 181 further on the Crosstown Expressway, but don't think that will happen.
I would have liked that too; the Crosstown Expwy has been completed to a full freeway all the way down to FM-43 almost to Chapman Ranch (several miles south of the TX-358 interchange). Also wondering why TX-358 wasn't designated as a 3-digit auxiliary interstate (perhaps I-137) when the freeway was completed in the late 1980's all the way to (North) Padre Island. Something else that would have made a lot of sense (at least to me), was extending the US-183 designation from Refugio down to Gregory and join up with US-181/TX-35.
Except for I-14 for the benefit of branding and grandstanding for retaining Ft Hood and I-69 which was mandated and to some extent financially supported by the US Congress Texas has little affinity for IH branding. Primarily it is the (generally small) differences between the technical specifications ASHTO and FHWA have in place for Interstates and the specs that the state feels are prudent for a fully limited access freeway. There are similar but lesser reasons to not convert a SH to a US Highway as well (part is just paperwork expense.)
Corpus Christi, we have a problem!
https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/2022/07/15/txdot-delays-construction-on-new-harbor-bridge-due-to-safety-concerns-corpus-christi/65374873007/
Quote from: Thegeet on July 16, 2022, 02:07:18 AM
Corpus Christi, we have a problem!
https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/2022/07/15/txdot-delays-construction-on-new-harbor-bridge-due-to-safety-concerns-corpus-christi/65374873007/
My money is on 2030 at this rate... never ends.
Construction has increased significantly on the southern approaches, but the bridge span has virtually looked the same since 2019. Of course, some stuff has happened, but nothing major.
Quote from: Thegeet on July 16, 2022, 02:07:18 AM
Corpus Christi, we have a problem!
https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/2022/07/15/txdot-delays-construction-on-new-harbor-bridge-due-to-safety-concerns-corpus-christi/65374873007/
The news report is very vague about the nature of the safety concerns.
Is it during construction due to construction techniques? Does it put construction workers at risk? Does it put harbor workers or channel ship traffic at risk?
Is it on the finished bridge design? Why would a design safety issue be discovered now, years into construction and after a thorough analysis due to FIGG's participation?
Is it due to substandard materials (maybe steel or stay cables) being used in the bridge which could cause it to not meet performance specifications?
Corpus Christi, we officially have a design concern!
https://www.kiiitv.com/amp/article/news/local/new-harbor-bridge-at-risk-of-collapse-under-current-design-txdot-says/503-5a483133-d207-4c46-b478-298e761b799e
IBT had five primary areas of concern:
Inadequate capacity of the pylon drilled shafts
Deficiencies in footing caps that led IBT to report that the bridge would collapse under certain load conditions
Delta frame design defects, primarily related to the connections between the delta frames and the adjacent precast box units
Significant uplift at the intermediate piers
Excessive torsion and other stresses related to crane placement during construction
This is starting to sound like a demolition job. How can you repair such design errors without demolishing it? The footing cap (piling cap?) of the main pylon for example. Photos by MaxConcrete from last month show that the main pylons are already built.
The article also says that construction has stopped entirely in mid July.
Oh great. A near decade of money and work gone down the drain to hell.
More FIGG designed trouble...
This project will probably follow the path of the Ship Channel Bridge in Houston, which was also originally designed by FIGG.
That means years of delay and added cost in the hundreds of millions.
To me it's shocking that construction on the main span was able to progress to this point before the independent review was completed.
Quote from: bwana39 on August 05, 2022, 04:19:50 PM
More FIGG designed trouble...
My thoughts are that even if FIGG designed something revolutionary that really was a great idea and the science was good (but unproven) it is so suspect that it fails to pass muster with the revue. I also agree there is no way to know.
Quote from: bwana39 on August 05, 2022, 04:19:50 PM
More FIGG designed trouble...
Why would TxDOT use them after what happened in Miami?
I'm not a structural engineer so I don't know what to say about the design flaws, but I can legitimately worry about how much longer the current bridge can hold up before it gives out....I imagine it can't last another decade. And the new replacement bridge holds the key to the revitalization of the city's crown jewel of the tourism economy: North Beach.
Quote from: Brian556 on August 06, 2022, 10:47:48 PM
Quote from: bwana39 on August 05, 2022, 04:19:50 PM
More FIGG designed trouble...
Why would TxDOT use them after what happened in Miami?
Work on this bridge predated the Miami failure. After Miami, TXDOT took the contract away. The problem is there was some of what FIGG had already done that was kept.
This has to be a pretty big deal for those at TxDOT. Two billion dollar bridges likely having to be completely torn down and rebuilt... Has that ever happened before in this country? Or the world for that matter? I'd expect them to implement some changes.
Will they have to go through an entirely new EIS and planning process if a total tear down is needed?
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on August 08, 2022, 01:11:26 PM
This has to be a pretty big deal for those at TxDOT. Two billion dollar bridges likely having to be completely torn down and rebuilt... Has that ever happened before in this country? Or the world for that matter? I'd expect them to implement some changes.
Will they have to go through an entirely new EIS and planning process if a total tear down is needed?
TxDOT has nothing to do with the Houston Ship Channel bridge. The Harris County Toll Road Authority owns that project. Both fell victim to FIGG.
For both bridges, the approach spans are not affected by the problems. Only the main span pylons are subject to possible demolition. (I haven't been by the Houston project lately, and I don't know what is being done to the south pylon, which was lower than the current Corpus pylons when the Houston project was halted.)
As for the EIS, I don't think there will be any need for a re-evaluation since the path won't change.
^^^ okay that's good news then. I was also wondering about the approaches. So maybe it can still all be completed this decade.
The current structural engineer is Arup-CFC, which took over when Figg was taken off the project in the wake of the FIU pedestrian bridge collapse. I find it puzzling that construction was allowed to continue for about three months (April to July this year) after concerns were first identified. If there are options for addressing shortcomings in the design by retrofitting what has already been built, these have not yet come to light.
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on August 08, 2022, 01:11:26 PMThis has to be a pretty big deal for those at TxDOT. Two billion dollar bridges likely having to be completely torn down and rebuilt... Has that ever happened before in this country? Or the world for that matter? I'd expect them to implement some changes.
I'm not aware that this has happened before in terms of the dollar amount, but there have been major failures during construction that not only required a return to the drawing board, but also killed workers and resulted in then widely respected engineering firms being disqualified for a period of time.
The Québec Bridge (1907, 1916) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_Bridge) is one notorious example. More recently, in the late 1960's and early 1970's, there was a rash of long-span steel box girder bridges collapsing while under construction, including the Cleddau Bridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleddau_Bridge) (1970).
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on August 08, 2022, 01:11:26 PMWill they have to go through an entirely new EIS and planning process if a total tear down is needed?
I'd worry about having to re-do the Coast Guard permitting process if the design fixes change the navigational envelope. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect a do-over from square one. There will of course be lengthy delays, one way or another.
Quote from: J N WinklerI'd worry about having to re-do the Coast Guard permitting process if the design fixes change the navigational envelope.
If they have to build entirely new support towers for the main span of the New Harbor Bridge it's likely the new pair would have to be built in the water. The unfinished towers are on land, but very close to the North and South edges of the Main Turning Basin. I don't know if it's possible for engineers and construction crew to repair the flaws in the unfinished towers and other in-progress elements of the bridge. If they have to start over they'll have to erect new support pylons in new locations with new foundations. I don't know how close those can be built to any existing pylons and pylon foundations. The stability of soil, bedrock and water intrusion are big concerns.
Quote from: Bobby5280 on August 09, 2022, 02:05:15 PMIf they have to build entirely new support towers for the main span of the New Harbor Bridge it's likely the new pair would have to be built in the water. The unfinished towers are on land, but very close to the North and South edges of the Main Turning Basin. I don't know if it's possible for engineers and construction crew to repair the flaws in the unfinished towers and other in-progress elements of the bridge. If they have to start over they'll have to erect new support pylons in new locations with new foundations. I don't know how close those can be built to any existing pylons and pylon foundations. The stability of soil, bedrock and water intrusion are big concerns.
I think part of the challenge is that they are trying to push the envelope in terms of span length. There is about 1600 ft (using Google Maps' distance measurement tool) between the pylons, and 1300 ft is these days considered about the maximum length for a cable-stayed precast concrete segmental span.
Of course, there are possible solutions even if they have to tear everything out and go with a completely different design concept. It will just take time and a hell of a lot of money, including legal fees as TxDOT, Flatiron/Dragados, Figg, and Arup-CFC work out attribution of responsibility.
https://www.kiiitv.com/article/news/local/txdot-new-harbor-bridge-developer-in-default-could-be-fired/503-3d826a1b-17e1-4f31-8621-c7a63591440b
Quote
TxDOT: Harbor Bridge developer did not take steps to fix flaws
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas Department of Transportation said Tuesday the developer of the new Harbor Bridge has defaulted on its contract and has 15 days to fix design flaws with the bridge or TxDOT will fire them.
This comes a little more than a month after TxDOT halted all work on the new Harbor Bridge and later said the bridge was at risk of "collapse" should work continue.
"This is unfortunate, disappointing and unacceptable," Executive Director of TxDOT Marc Williams said about developer Flatiron/Dragados LLC's (FDLCC) "lack of responsiveness" to safety concerns brought by TxDOT.
Williams said TxDOT has long had questions about key design elements of the new Harbor Bridge.
"Over the course of the project, there have been assurances by Flatiron/Dragados that these issues had been or would be addressed," Williams said.
TxDOT hired a fully independent bridge engineering firm, Systra International Bridge Technologies, to confirm that those concerns were addressed and found that they were not.
"Earlier this year, this review identified several areas of concern that generally involved instances where the bridge design did not meet various industry standards specified by TxDOT," Williams said. Issues with foundations, load and weight capacity and the future stability of mainstay bridge were all included in the independent review.
After the review was complete, TxDOT sent FDLCC a notice of nonconforming work on April 29, 2022, Williams said, to formally let FDLCC know about the concerns.
On July 15, 2022, TxDOT suspended work on the bridge after FDLLC's "lack of responsiveness" to TxDOT's concerns.
"Despite numerous meetings between TxDOT, the Flatiron/Dragados team, and IBT, Flatiron Dragados has refused to acknowledge the safety issues that have been identified or to take any steps to correct them," Williams said.
"This is unacceptable and places TxDOT in the unfortunate position today of having to provide Flatiron/Dragados with a notice of default."
FDLCC has 15 days to "definitively address the safety issues that have been raised," and if they don't, TxDOT said they will replace them as the contractor.
"Should we have to move forward with terminating this contractor, TxDOT will expedite the process to move ahead safely and deliberately by securing new contractors to complete the work on the Harbor Bridge, specifically to address the safety issues that have been established and finish the job," Williams said.
This all may, again, push back the estimated completion date for the new Harbor Bridge, Williams said.
"We are going to see this project through to completion," Williams said in the press conference.
TxDOT held the meeting Tuesday to "reinforce that safety remains our highest priority as we work to assure the new Harbor Bridge is properly and safely constructed," Williams said.
^
Well, I am at least very glad that TxDOT is being proactive about making sure this bridge is going to be safe and structurally sound (unlike some other states on the Mid-South board). I say just fire FDLCC now since they don't seem to care about fixing flaws.
They legally have to give them a chance to respond, even if they have no expectation that they will in a satisfactory way. Otherwise, TxDOT would be the one breaching the contract, rather than FDLCC.
Progress?
https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/contractor-on-paused-930m-texas-bridge-backs-down-over-design-dispute-02-09-2022/
(https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/contractor-on-paused-930m-texas-bridge-backs-down-over-design-dispute-02-09-2022/)
Excellent breakdown of the New Harbor Bridge conflict between the contractors and TXDOT
Good video, more interesting than I expected. Thanks for posting it.
But also infuriating. So if I understand correctly, the contractor took over and was tasked with reviewing the design of the discredited and incompetent FIGG for critical flaws, correcting and making sure the revised design would be safe. After which they were able to renew construction while the state's independent firm finished it's review of the revised design.
And now their defense is basically, "Why didn't you stop us from proceeding with our new revised design that we were supposed to make safe but we failed to catch our own mistakes and flaws?" Seems like another case of either a firm's incompetence and/or putting profits over safety. With such a critical structure like this massive bridge, where a failure could literally kill hundreds or thousands, why shouldn't the persons who failed in their safety review of the design be barred from future infrastructure work?
Quote from: armadillo speedbump on September 21, 2022, 06:47:49 PM
Good video, more interesting than I expected. Thanks for posting it.
But also infuriating. So if I understand correctly, the contractor took over and was tasked with reviewing the design of the discredited and incompetent FIGG for critical flaws, correcting and making sure the revised design would be safe. After which they were able to renew construction while the state's independent firm finished it's review of the revised design.
And now their defense is basically, "Why didn't you stop us from proceeding with our new revised design that we were supposed to make safe but we failed to catch our own mistakes and flaws?" Seems like another case of either a firm's incompetence and/or putting profits over safety. With such a critical structure like this massive bridge, where a failure could literally kill hundreds or thousands, why shouldn't the persons who failed in their safety review of the design be barred from future infrastructure work?
The real question in most of it is what is the worst case. It boils down to two real issues. How flexible is the concrete in reality and what is the load the structure will tolerate when the cranes that are parked on it are fully loaded. It appears the engineers the builder hired and the engineers that TXDOT contracted with have differing opinions. The real issue is what does the science say. It appears TXDOT's consultant is firmly entrenched in the ALL position. This all seems pretty one-sided with the contractor being seemingly silent due to potential litigation as opposed to an indefensible position.
Clearly this engineering standoff runs somewhere between Galloping Gertie and the Golden Gate Bridge (which detractors said would fail within a decade. ) We have heard one side and are chirping their unerring dedication to safety but what about the other side?
From the Corpus Christi Caller Times:
https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2022/10/06/txdot-briefs-state-lawmakers-on-stalled-harbor-bridge-project/69543891007/
Quote
'Lessons learned': TxDOT briefs state lawmakers on stalled Harbor Bridge project
The Texas Department of Transportation halted work on the bridge's main span in July due to design concerns. The degree to which the prolonged, nearly $1 billion project may be delayed is unknown.
Chase Rogers
Corpus Christi Caller Times
Texas Department of Transportation officials briefed state lawmakers on the status of the troubled Harbor Bridge project during a heated public hearing in Corpus Christi on Thursday, more than two months since the state agency indefinitely halted work on the bridge's main span.
The Texas House Transportation Committee hearing, held at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, just a short distance from the incomplete bridge, marked the first time TxDOT has publicly answered questions from state officials about the bridge project. The project, which broke ground in 2016 and was initially expected to be completed in 2020, is at least four years behind schedule and expected to exceed its nearly $1 billion budget.
For more than an hour, the bipartisan committee of lawmakers and representatives of the Nueces County delegation peppered TxDOT officials with an array of questions about the project. The committee heard voluntary testimony from local elected officials and the chairman of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority.
The new Harbor Bridge will be the tallest structure in South Texas when it is completed. It will replace the existing 1950s-era Harbor Bridge, a signature of Corpus Christi's skyline that connects the city via U.S. 181 to North Beach, the home of popular tourist attractions USS Lexington and Texas State Aquarium.
The bridge developer, Flatiron/Dragados, said earlier this year that the new bridge would be completed in late 2024. However, TxDOT directed the developer to pause construction on the bridge's main span in July, citing concerns with the proposed design. TxDOT and its independent consultant, International Bridge Technologies, said the planned design of the bridge would risk collapse under certain conditions.
Questions from the committee centered on when TxDOT first became aware of the design concerns, whether officials could have addressed those issues sooner and the execution of the design-build process TxDOT is using to deliver the project.
Democratic state Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg, the chairman of the committee, said the sequence of issues and delays has "challenged the integrity" of TxDOT's bridge development process and the trust of local residents.
While fielding questions from Canales, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said the delays were unacceptable and that TxDOT has had "lessons learned" from the project. TxDOT plans, he said, to exercise more oversight on projects of a similar scale to the Harbor Bridge in the future.
"(TxDOT) very much shares in the frustration that residents and businesses and community leaders of the Corpus Christi region have felt over the delays associated with the work on this project," Williams said in his opening remarks. "In this particular instance, I believe there were challenges with how those risks were processed and managed, and we made changes in our program to better account for that."
TxDOT does not currently have a completion timeline or an estimate of when construction on the main span would resume, as those elements depend on solidifying plans by Flatiron/Dragados to address TxDOT's design concerns, Williams said.
That a timeline has not yet been presented was a sticking point for some lawmakers, including state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, who said, "(E)verything I've heard today isn't really moving the ball."
However, signaling that TxDOT may be sticking with the current developer, Williams said TxDOT and Flatiron/Dragados had signed a written agreement that detailed how the project would move forward following the pause.
In August, TxDOT gave Flatiron/Dragados a 15-day timeline, initiated by a legal notice called a notice of default, to address its design concerns or be removed from the project. TxDOT and the developer later opted to continue those negotiations, which Olivarez said at the time were "promising."
However, Williams said Thursday that the new agreement retains the legal remedies put in place when TxDOT issued the notice of default to Flatiron/Dragados, meaning TxDOT could still remove the developer without issuing an additional notice until it decides to rescind the notice of default. TxDOT has taken preemptive steps to continue construction should it remove the developer, Williams said.
TxDOT has promised local officials that the local governmental entities will not front any additional costs associated with delays. To date, TxDOT has paid Flatiron/Dragados $786 million for its work on the project, which was initially estimated to cost $930 million.
Flatiron/Dragados has assured TxDOT it would resolve the design concerns at the company's expense, a TxDOT spokesperson, Rickey Dailey, told the Caller-Times this week.
Per this article the project could be complete in 2025:
https://www.roadsbridges.com/bridges/bridge-design/news/21437293/the-harbor-bridge-in-texas-looks-to-be-completed-in-2025?fbclid=IwAR2BJI-mRACA6-BDvu0RZew16brEQKQW6pAJa1qmr5PkA0wzgBVWCYCtFI8
https://www.enr.com/articles/55604-corpus-christi-new-harbor-bridge-main-span-work-cleared-to-resume (https://www.enr.com/articles/55604-corpus-christi-new-harbor-bridge-main-span-work-cleared-to-resume)
Quote
Work on the main span of the new Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, resumed Dec. 15 after a nearly four-month suspension over design safety concerns. Texas Dept. of Transportation officials now anticipate completing the $930-million cable-stayed bridge within three years.
Crews from joint venture contractor Flatiron/Dragados LLC now can lift delta frames into place and continue construction of the main span towers, the agency announced.
In a statement, Olivarez said the resumption in erecting elements of the bridge superstructure indicates the contractor is adhering to a work schedule to complete the project in 2025. Officials had originally aimed to finish it in 2021.
(https://www.enr.com/ext/resources/2022/12/16/Corpus_Christi_Harbor_Bridge_Oct22_ENRweb.jpg?1671217298)
^ And I thought no news is good news. Better late than never!
Another article detailing the new work being done and it's still on track to be finished in 2025: https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/harbor-bridge/2023/04/07/txdot-corpus-christi-harbor-bridge-developer-resolve-final-design-dispute/70093033007/
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on April 10, 2023, 09:43:19 AM
Another article detailing the new work being done and it's still on track to be finished in 2025: https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/harbor-bridge/2023/04/07/txdot-corpus-christi-harbor-bridge-developer-resolve-final-design-dispute/70093033007/
Yeah right.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 10, 2023, 09:53:46 AM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on April 10, 2023, 09:43:19 AM
Another article detailing the new work being done and it's still on track to be finished in 2025: https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/harbor-bridge/2023/04/07/txdot-corpus-christi-harbor-bridge-developer-resolve-final-design-dispute/70093033007/
Yeah right.
? Seems plausible. Even if it's 2026 it still doesn't seem that far away given how long this thing has been U/C. What's another 2-3 years at this point.
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
I think the 2025 completion date is plausible. I looked at some of the material TxDOT made public, which include correspondence between itself and the contractor. The key letters include several signed by someone whose name I don't recognize but who is clearly very high up in Dragados, with a Madrid return address, asking (though not in so many words) what the company needed to do to make this problem go away.
While there is a limit to how far TxDOT and the contractor can control the risks inherent to this project, I would expect the latter's personnel are highly motivated to finish on time just to keep their heads on their shoulders.
With all the bad luck this project has had it wouldn't surprise me if Corpus Christi got hit with a hurricane later this Summer and cause at least some damage to the construction project.
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Quote from: jgb191 on April 11, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Union City, TN bypass says "hi"
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 11, 2023, 12:19:46 PM
Quote from: jgb191 on April 11, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It’ll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Union City, TN bypass says "hi"
Terminal C was at Newark Liberty Airport when the current Airport facility opened in 1972.
It wasn’t until 1983 it was completed and even only in part. About 1985 or so it got all completed.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 11, 2023, 12:19:46 PM
Quote from: jgb191 on April 11, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Union City, TN bypass says "hi"
Stick with highway projects. Building the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris took 97 years (1163-1260) and I'm sure that's not the record for human history.
Quote from: wdcrft63 on April 11, 2023, 06:24:11 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 11, 2023, 12:19:46 PM
Quote from: jgb191 on April 11, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Union City, TN bypass says "hi"
Stick with highway projects. Building the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris took 97 years (1163-1260) and I'm sure that's not the record for human history.
Even in the modern era in the US, the national cathedral took 83 years
Quote from: bwana39 on April 11, 2023, 08:54:01 PM
Quote from: wdcrft63 on April 11, 2023, 06:24:11 PM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on April 11, 2023, 12:19:46 PM
Quote from: jgb191 on April 11, 2023, 12:27:28 AM
Quote from: sprjus4 on April 10, 2023, 12:33:00 PM
It'll be done before 2050 hopefully :-D
If not it will go down in the Book of World Records as the longest construction project in human history.
Union City, TN bypass says "hi"
Stick with highway projects. Building the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris took 97 years (1163-1260) and I'm sure that's not the record for human history.
Even in the modern era in the US, the national cathedral took 83 years
Sagrada Familia...
Now seems to be fully back in swing with a June report saying the permeant stay cables on the north pylon to be installed in early August: https://harborbridgeproject.com/project-status-repor/june-monthly-status-report-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0zN2CiQKNXaWSCV8RpcgUdT1TUL9e7aGYHFmKlcVLJZqsW4Fh9hw9GE7A_aem_ARxtNBdbR5b9YusiIyEMY_03a_HOuTeYon4JlEcfETUr3Sy28fwW2nHXJqY9PTTzgjI
This is a race. The CC Harbor verses all of I-69. :bigass:
The rate this project goes, I will put my money on I-69 to get completed first within the state. That includes I-369. :)
https://www.kiiitv.com/amp/article/news/local/visible-damage-on-new-harbor-bridge-is-cosmetic/503-fdd15c6e-372f-4280-87c9-758ed011c309
Apparently there were cracks found on the bridge. What do y'all think.
Quote from: roadman65 on July 26, 2023, 04:15:51 AM
This is a race. The CC Harbor verses all of I-69. :bigass:
The rate this project goes, I will put my money on I-69 to get completed first within the state. That includes I-369. :)
I will bet you on that, the last 20 miles of I-69 (From the I-369 split) will NEVER get built.
It looks like this project is now scheduled to be completed in 2025:
https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/harbor-bridge-project-pushing-for-2025-finish/63105
Progress appears to be slow since my previous visit in July 2022. Photo taken Saturday, Nov. 18. Hopefully work is gaining momentum after the pause.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_055-1600.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_055-1600.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20231116-18_055-1600.jpg&hash=03fd7296684e09c65c88d68c4bb6dce572a8704e)
Work on the interchange at I-37 and SH 286 (south end of the bridge) appears to be over 80% complete.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_049-1600.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_049-1600.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20231116-18_049-1600.jpg&hash=8925038c5716aa6ff13dc95976f5f588cbacfc67)
View on the south end of the existing bridge
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_057-1600.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20231116-18_057-1600.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20231116-18_057-1600.jpg&hash=217ac861f229ba9614abf6587a5d627f9194ad27)
That third picture is impressive........... :colorful: :colorful: :colorful: