Highway/Bridge, Award of Merit: FM457 Swing Bridge Replacement (Matagorda Bridge)
The team replacing the FM 457 Swing Bridge over the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway faced hurdles ranging from active vessel traffic to erratic weather to limited space for heavy lifts. Daily troubleshooting helped push the $41.2-million, 27-month project forward.
A detailed logistics plan, crane mats and truck mats helped the team overcome the challenges of the site’s soft soils. The tight space hindered the movement of large cranes, making heavy lifts more complex.