TEXAS STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
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July 24 2016 Vol. I • No. 15
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your Texas Connection • Dale Agnew, Carrollton, TX • 1-877-877-4997
Work Continues on Two Vital Projects in Beaumont Area By Chuck Harvey CEG CORRESPONDENT
Road improvement projects are keeping construction crews busy in the Beaumont area of southeast Texas where upgrades to Interstate 10 that connects the region to Louisiana are under way. Contractor Williams Brothers Construction Co. Inc. of Houston has two projects on I-10. One is a $60 million project to replace the Purple Heart Memorial Bridge over the Neches River and the other is a $29.9 million contract to replace the I-10 and Major Drive intersection southwest of Beaumont with an I-10 overpass across Major Drive. Currently Major Drive crosses over I-10 at the intersection. Both projects are overseen by the Texas Department of Transportation. Project manager is Kevin Grissom, engineer in training at the Beaumont Area TxDOT office. Both the Interstate 10-Major Drive intersection and Purple Heart Memorial Bridge were
aging and needed to be upgraded for safety and growing traffic volumes. A mix of commuters and truckers use I-10 on a regular basis. “The Major Drive-I-10 project will increase safety and reduce congestion in that particular area,” said Sarah Dupre, public information officer in the Beaumont office of the Texas Department of Transportation. Purple Heart Memorial Bridge The Purple Heart Memorial Bridge provides access to Jefferson and Orange counties. The Neches River meanders through a floodplain area just east of Beaumont. The 50-year-old bridge has seen an increase in vehicle traffic to about 80,000 a day. The new Purple Heart Memorial Bridge is expected to be finished in 2017. When completed, the bridge will contain three lanes in each direction. Currently, the bridge has three eastbound lanes and two lanes heading westbound.
TxDOT photo
Current construction includes excavation, installation of concrete panels, hauling stabilized sand for the retaining walls and pouring a flexible base material for the roadway.
The bridge will be 3,897 ft. (1,188 m) long and 140-ft. (42.7 m) wide. Construction of the bridge requires heavy use of con-
crete and steel, Dupre said. It will feature an obelisk on each corner with a purple heart etched into the obelisks, she said.
The project will feature 12 subcontractors. All work takes place during the day, with 50 workers on see BRIDGE page 16
TEX Rail Construction Receives Green Light to Start 27-Mi. Commuter Rail Job The Federal Transit Administration awarded a letter of no prejudice to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority for TEX Rail, which means construction for the 27-mi. (43.5 km) commuter rail can An artist’s concept shows how TEX Rail cars break ground. might look. Service is scheduled to begin in The FTA letter authorizes FWTA to late 2018. proceed with procurement of all materi-
als and construction activities planned for the first six months. “We are delighted to receive the letter of no prejudice,” said Paul Ballard, president and CEO. “We can now secure the prime contract and all subcontracts while locking in current pricing. This has been a long journey and we can’t wait to get
started on construction.” Bob Baulsir, vice president of railroads and procurement, said the letter means FWTA can start spending the local funding it has in reserves while awaiting a full funding grant agreement. TEX Rail will extend from downtown see RAIL page 12