Technical Description:
• CON/SPAN
® B-Series Bridge System
• Span: 42’
• Rise: 11
• Length: 168'
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During an expansion project of US 183, a tolled expressway in Austin, Texas, a joint venture called Colorado River Constructors (CRC) was created between Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. and Fluor Enterprises Inc. Since the highway was being expanded from 10 lanes to 15, a bridge structure able to handle drainage of the much larger roadway surface was needed to replace the existing concrete box culvert. For this reason, a new concrete box culvert was deemed insufficient to meet the requirements.
After reviewing the options, it was decided that a 42' x 11' CON/SPAN® B-Series Bridge System, 168' in length, was the best solution. Not only did the precast CON/SPAN system meet the hydraulic requirements and improve the safety for 60,000 daily travelers, it also was environmentally friendly and cost effective. In a very unique plan, the foundations for the CON/SPAN structure were installed while the original box culvert was still in place. After the arch foundations were cast, the boxes were removed and the installation continued. A crawler crane set 42 precast concrete arches in just two shifts. Additionally, it was imperative the concrete footings and arch units be installed carefully in order to avoid the high-pressure gas and wastewater utilities that run parallel to the drainage canal.
"Instead of spending several million dollars to relocate the existing utilities and running into the possibility of delaying the project's schedule, we quickly pivoted and devised a plan to install a precast concrete arch system along the new expressway," stated Brendan McGrath, Belfour Beatty's General Superintendent. Click here to view the installation.
In the end, the project was a great solution for the site, and all of the project partners were pleased with the innovative outcome.
“With the delivery of the CON/SPAN system, conveying the hydraulic flows for all new lanes of SH 71 at 183 South overpass intersection has been a success,” concluded McGrath. "From fitting the unique design parameters to saving time and money, the system was a major milestone for our project teams.
Technical Description:
• CON/SPAN
® B-Series Bridge System
• Span: 42’
• Rise: 11
• Length: 168'
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