Skip to main content

Bridge link underway in Texas

In the US state of Texas, work is in hand to build new bridges carrying US-281 over the Colorado River at Marble Falls. The Texas Department of Transportation has set a budget of close to US$30 million to replace the existing Lake Marble Falls Bridge with two new bridges.
March 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
New twin bridges at Marle Falls in Texas will carrying US 281 over the Colorado River - image courtesy of Guy Tuttle
In the US state of Texas, work is in hand to build new bridges carrying US-281 over the Colorado River at Marble Falls.

The 3499 Texas Department of Transportation has set a budget of close to US$30 million to replace the existing Lake Marble Falls Bridge with two new bridges. This crossing is some 80km from Austin and the project requires the demolition of the existing steel truss bridge and the construction of twin segmental bridges. The new bridges will be built using the balanced cantilever construction method with end spans constructed on falsework.

Finley Engineering Group (FINLEY) carried out a time-dependent staged analysis of the structure to monitor stresses and expected deflection during construction. The firm revised the segment layout and optimised the post-tensioning layout, which reduced costs and construction time. The analysis process included developing a model, which used Bridge Information Modeling (BrIM). This allowed the synchronisation of the CADD shop drawings with the analysis model, to meet the contractor’s fast-pace construction schedule. The first of the new bridges is under construction at present and is due for completion in mid 2012. The second bridge will be finished in 2014. Archer-Western Contractors is building the two structures and FINLEY’s portion of the project includes bridge design and a full construction engineering package.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Polish bridge construction project underway
    September 30, 2019
    Construction work is underway for a new bridge forming part of the S3 expressway in Poland. The second bridge at Cigacice is close to completion and is in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, Poland. The S3 route represents a major construction project for Poland with work ongoing for the stretch connecting Sulechów and Nowa Sól. This section includes building a new bridge spanning the Odra River at Cigacice is being built. This bridge is built from either side of the river and now is almost connected and is expected
  • Bridges in Sunderland and Poland are being slid into place
    February 6, 2017
    Sunderland sees a bridge slide into place and two bridges inch their way across a Polish highway Slowly but surely, a 2,500 tonne section of a new bridge deck was eased out from the banks of the River Wear near Sunderland in northern England. It now straddles the water, pointing towards the opposite bank which it will eventually reach after another sliding operation likely to take place next year. The project to build the New Wear Crossing is now halfway through with the first half of the steel deck b
  • Fatal bridge collapse in Texas
    March 27, 2015
    A bridge being built in Texas has collapsed, killing at least one person according to local news reports. The incident happened on Interstate 35 in the town of Salado, around 80km to the north of the city of Austin. Local news suggests that an oversized truck collided with part of the structure, causing the bridge to collapse. As the structure gave way large sections of the bridge fell onto other vehicles, resulting in at least one fatality as well as a number of injuries. The highway has been shut until th
  • COWI acquiring FINLEY Engineering Group
    April 27, 2022
    COWI is acquiring the Finley Engineering Group.