Climbing in Corpus Christi

The challenge for Doka on the new Harbor Bridge in Texas was to use the same formwork for each pylon despite each pylon’s different geometry.
September 17, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Doka used its hydraulic climbing formworks SKE50 and SKE100 plus its large-area formwork Top 50

The new US 181 Harbor Bridge is being constructed to replace an ageing bridge across the Corpus Christi Ship Channel off the Gulf of Mexico. The replacement bridge, with nearly a 63m clearance, will also allow the passage of larger ships and possibly cruise ships into the docks. The current Harbor Bridge was opened in 1956 to replace a drawbridge and now handles 26,000 vehicles per day. When complete, the new Harbor Bridge will be the tallest point in southern Texas and the longest cable-stayed concrete segmental bridge in the US.

The upper and lower pylons were different shapes requiring two designs. The primary pylon structures have a geometry that narrows and angles at the same time. A reusable system was needed that would have minimal changes between pours.

Doka used large-area formwork Top 50 as well as hydraulic climbing formwork SKE50 and SKE100 platforms. The system was designed with telescopic platforms that adjust to the changing pylon shape. Doka says there were almost 520m² of formwork for one pylon.

Doka helped the contractor – a Flatiron and Dragados joint venture - remain on schedule because there was minimal rebuild between pours. Doka also saved crane time due to the hydraulic lifting systems employed.

The contract won by Flatiron and Dragados includes $854.6 million for design and construction of the bridge and another $128.2 million for the 25-year maintenance and operation of the bridge.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Riga's newest bridge improved traffic flow
    May 9, 2012
    An alliance of companies has come together to realise major infrastructure projects in Latvia including its biggest bridge. Patrick Smith reports. Riga, the Latvian capital, has the finest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe and its centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city of some 750,000 people (the country's total population is 2.2 million) is bounded to the south by Lithuania and to the north by Estonia, and is the second largest in Baltic States. To the east is Russia and Belarus.
    Read More
  • Manitowoc cranes construct Portugal's tallest viaduct
    April 16, 2012
    Five Potain cranes were used to build pylons for the Viaduto do Corgo project in Portugal. The recently completed 2.8km viaduct is one of the longest and tallest in the country. The machines were supplied by Manitowoc's Portugal office on a rental contract, who managed the cranes throughout the project. In addition to installing the cranes, the local Manitowoc Crane Care team also climbed and relocated the cranes as work progressed. Each crane worked with a 45m jib and constructed four pylons at a time. In
    Read More
  • Mersey Gateway Bridge has won IABSE’s Outstanding Structure Award
    June 25, 2019
    The UK’s Mersey Gateway Bridge has picked up the Outstanding Structure Award 2019 from IABSE, the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering*. Judges described the bridge, designed by Cowi, as "an elegantly integrated solution for a multi-span concrete cable stay bridge in which form follows function". "Everyone involved with the design and construction the Mersey Gateway Bridge over the past six years knows that this is an incredibly special structure,” said Paul Sanders, Cowi’s
    Read More
  • Mersey Gateway Bridge has won IABSE’s Outstanding Structure Award
    September 19, 2019
    The UK’s Mersey Gateway Bridge has picked up the Outstanding Structure Award 2019 from IABSE, the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering* Judges described the bridge, designed by Cowi, as "an elegantly integrated solution for a multi-span concrete cable stay bridge in which form follows function". "Everyone involved with the design and construction the Mersey Gateway Bridge over the past six years knows that this is an incredibly special structure,” said Paul Sanders, Cowi’s p
    Read More

Highlighted Content