The long-awaited, $1.3 billion Harbor Bridge opened Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas, per a information launch from the town. It replaces the growing older unique Harbor Bridge that had higher-than-average motorist accident charges, and represents the longest concrete segmental cable-stayed span in North America, based on the venture web site.
The bridge, which straddles the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, options 538-foot-tall towers which might be excessive sufficient to accommodate taller ships that may carry extra cargo, enabling the town to compete with different Gulf Coast deepwater ports, per the discharge.
“The brand new Harbor Bridge solidifies Corpus Christi’s place as a world power hub, residence to the Port of Corpus Christi, the nation’s largest crude oil export gateway and the third largest on the planet,” mentioned Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo within the launch.
Constructed by a FlatironDragados group, the brand new bridge features a shared-use path, a neighborhood plaza, LED lighting and xeriscape landscaping, per the discharge, and encompasses simply over 6 miles of bridge and connecting roadway.
“With an anticipated service lifetime of 170 years, this bridge will profit the area for many years to return by offering quicker commutes, safer journey and extra financial alternative,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Alejandro “Alex” Meade III mentioned within the launch.
The previous Harbor Bridge had vehicular issues of safety related to its lack of shoulders, steep grade and a reverse curve, which led to a excessive accident price, per the venture web site. It additionally had excessive upkeep prices and offered no acceptable entry for these on foot or on bicycles. Crews demolished the construction as a part of their scope of labor.
The venture was initially scheduled for completion in 2020, however encountered quite a few difficulties equivalent to disagreements over prices associated to allowing, right-of-way acquisition, the COVID-19 pandemic and substitute of the engineer of document. In April 2023, a venture crane caught hearth and showered particles on the bottom under, injuring two individuals on the close by Whataburger Subject.
Additional delays got here in 2022, when Texas DOT raised critical security considerations with Broomfield, Colorado-based FlatironDragados and London-headquartered engineer Arup. The company issued the discover of default on account of 5 key design points and compelled development work to close down in August 2022 till the contractor addressed them. These disputes and harm claims have been settled in October 2023, and crews resumed work.
Southbound lanes opened Saturday and the northbound lanes of the brand new bridge are scheduled to open in early July, per the discharge.
