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Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems

US 59 under Dunlavy, Hazard, Mandel and Woodhead Streets
Location	Houston
State	TX
Completion Date	1995
Contact Person	John P. Vogel P.E. Bridge Design Engineer Houston District Texas Department of Transportation 8100 Washington Avenue Houston TX 77251-1386 Phone: (713) 802-5235 Fax: (713) 802-5350 Email: jvogel1@dot.state.tx.us
Description	In the mid-1990's, widening of US 59 from six to ten lanes, including two high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, required replacement of bridges connecting streets in four Houston neighborhoods. Project challenges included neighborhood displeasure with proposed disruptions during on-site construction and restrictive clearances beneath the bridges. To maintain freeway traffic under the bridges and allow city street traffic over US 59 while removing and replacing the bridges, TxDOT provided attractive tied arch bridges, structures that suspend a thin slab from two tied arches 45 feet apart. The existing bridges were used as work platforms for erecting the arches, and the slabs were precast in segments and then bolted to erection beams to eliminate the need for falsework under the bridge during construction.
Photo
Prefabricated Elements	full
Other Keywords	Precast prestressed deck panels
Advantages	Minimized traffic disruption and improved constructibility: Restrictive clearances beneath the bridges made construction of falsework difficult without closing US 59.
Photo Credits	Texas Department of Transportation