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[TXtoNJ]

I'm assuming they will build the west span first, demolish the existing structure, and then finish the east span? If so, would you guess completion in the 2026-2028 range, with the first lanes opening around 2022-3?

[MaxConcrete]

I'm assuming they will build the west span first, demolish the existing structure, and then finish the east span? If so, would you guess completion in the 2026-2028 range, with the first lanes opening around 2022-3?

Yes, your construction sequence is consistent with my understanding. The new northbound span (east span) will be in about the same position as the existing span.

According to the Traylor site, project completion is scheduled for December 2023. That's a fairly aggressive schedule, considering that each of the three major phases (built west span, remove existing span, built east span) must proceed one at a time in series, after the prior phase is complete.

[MaxConcrete]

Construction has begun, as reported in this article
https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/06/01/1b-construction-project-to-replace-houston-ship.html

The business journal article references an article in Roads and Bridges, which provides extensive technical details and has some nice depictions
https://www.roadsbridges.com/ship-and-handling#

The article says the "existing bridge [will be] demolished". My understanding from earlier reports that the main span would be deconstructed, basically disassembled one segmental section at a time, in reverse order to how it was built. I don't know if that qualifies as demolished, or if the plan has changed.

The existing bridge, opened in 1982, will probably reach its 39th birthday before it is removed. This is Houston, where short building and infrastructure lifespans are common.
I recently posted photos of the high school I attended, which opened in 1969. A couple weeks ago it was reduced to rubble.
http://houstonfreeways.com/Home/photos/sharpstown-high-school-demolition-2018

[Chris]

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/hctra-to-pause-construction-on-ship-channel-bridge-to-fix-possible-structural-weakness/285-ae4a99a4-211d-4fcf-b0e5-dd3ead6ba772

The Harris County Toll Road Authority's largest project to date is being put on hold to fix a potential design flaw in the Beltway 8 Ship Channel Bridge, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

HCTRA announced they plan to pause construction on the main pylons of the cable-stayed portion of the bridge replacement project. HCTRA hired an independent consultant to review the design.

That consultant identified an issue related to the design of the curved portions of the pylon legs.

That doesn't sound good...

The @HCTRA plans to temporarily stop construction on the Ship Channel Bridge replacement project. An independent consultant found a design issue with the curved portions of the pylon legs. (1/2) @KHOU #KHOU11 Photos courtesy: HCTRA pic.twitter.com/ICdRu0zVR0

— Chris Costa (@ChrisCostaTV) January 7, 2020

[MaxConcrete]