AUSTIN, TX | Modjeski and Masters recently began work on the Comal River Bridge on San Antonio Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The bridge, owned by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), will undergo rehabilitation to the deck and spandrel frames, and widening of the lanes and sidewalk.
Under the forward-thinking direction of San Antonio-based contractor, Bexar Concrete Works, Modjeski, Bexar Concrete and general contractor, Capitol Excavation, created precast designs to replace the bridge’s original cast-in-place design. The existing deck portions of the arch bridge will be replaced, which will increase the roadway width from 20’ to 30’ and sidewalk width from 5’-2” to 8’-0”. The existing arches and select spandrel columns are being left in place to maintain the appearance of the historic 97-year old bridge, while new spandrel frames will be installed with an adjacent box beam superstructure.
In addition to value-engineering the spandrel frame cast-in-place designs to precast, Modjeski will assist in providing a precast overhang for the superstructure to increase construction speed.
“Hundreds of thousands of bridges across the country, like the Comal River Bridge, are over 50 years old and in need of rehabilitation. With heavy traffic demand, bridge owners need rehabilitation to be completed quickly to minimize delays and community disruption. Through prefabricated designs, Modjeski and our partners like Bexar Concrete are at the forefront of accelerated bridge construction, leading the way in reducing congestion while improving bridge quality,” said John Holt, PE, Senior Project Manager with Modjeski and Masters. “We’re honored and excited to be part of the team helping to modernize the Comal River Bridge in order to make it safer and more effective for the surrounding community.”
The Comal River Bridge is an accelerated bridge construction project at a high-profile site, already garnering coverage from news stations throughout San Antonio. The project’s success will continue to help raise Modjeski’s profile in the state, where it opened a new office earlier this year. The Austin office is the firm’s first Texas location and 12th location nationwide, highlighting the company’s continued dedication to growing in the region.
Construction on the Comal River Bridge began in September and is scheduled to be completed by May 2020. The project’s value is estimated at $4.5 million.
To learn more about Modjeski and Master’s accelerated bridge construction services, visit https://www.modjeski.com/services/.
About Modjeski and Masters
Modjeski and Masters is one of the world’s leading bridge engineering firms, with a reputation for technical excellence and innovation that goes beyond current standards. Established more than 125 years ago, the firm is responsible for the design and maintenance of some of our nation’s most recognizable structures. Services include fixed and movable bridge design, inspection and rehabilitation, and all facets of life-cycle maintenance, research and code development. For more information, including in-depth videos of Modjeski and Masters at work, visit www.modjeski.com.