Photo courtesy of TxDOT
Williams Brothers Construction Co. Inc. and TxDOT are on track to complete the I-610 West Loop/I-69 Southwest Freeway Interchange improvement project this summer.
Phase 7 of the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) seven-phase, $259 million, I-610 West Loop/I-69 Southwest Freeway Interchange improvement project in Houston is on track for summer 2024 finish. Williams Brothers Construction Co. Inc. has been making tremendous progress on the initiative that was launched in December 2018.
Photo courtesy of TxDOT
TxDOT recently gave an update and announced that "all roadwork at the Houston 610/69 interchange has been completed early."
The work, taking place in TxDOT's Houston District, is improving safety and mobility, reducing congestion and upgrading the interchange to current design standards.
"The remaining IH-610 median bridges are being constructed," said Danny Perez, TxDOT public information officer. "The southern median bridge is being constructed with plans to complete by the end of March 2024, followed by the total closure and reconstruction of Conn G. A third pump station, a few detention ponds, and retaining walls are being constructed."
The following elements have been completed: opening the second lane of Conn C, the second lane of Conn H, and the third lane of the ramp that merges with SB IH-69. The remaining work is concentrating upon completing the median IH-610 bridges on the southern end, demolishing and reconstructing Conn G, demolishing temporary bridges 1 and 2, and placing IH-610 traffic in its final lane configuration.
Construction Challenges
The work has its hurdles, but they are being cleared.
"Constructing new bridges around existing bridges that have live traffic [is a challenge,]" said Perez. "It is being resolved by closing ramps and roadways, waiting to remove existing bridge obstructions and having a contractor with experience who knows how to work in tight spaces to manipulate the beam. Progress has been good. At times progress was slowed by local events that prohibit roadway closures. TxDOT has had a good long standing relationship with Williams Brothers, who understand the pressure TxDOT is under to complete any project within the allotted timeline. [They have] personnel that specialize in specific facets of work where resolving issues is commonplace for them."
For the interchange work, eight bridge ramps are being constructed, as well as two METRO Bus bridges and a Chimney Rock bridge.
Equipment operators are using drill rigs, cranes, excavators and concrete pump trucks.
The majority of proposed I-610 and I-69 frontage roads and bridge approaches have been constructed.
Photo courtesy of TxDOT
"Richmond and Westpark Drive medians, a section of IH-610 NBFR and Conn G approaches are pending pavement," said Perez, who noted that the IH-610 NB and SB frontal roads, IH-69 NB and SB frontal roads and approaches to Conn's A, B, C, D, E, F, G & H have been completed. All roads have a concrete finished surface. Asphalt bond breaker is used below.
For this work, crews are using a lime mixer, front-end loader, motor graders and a laydown machine (bond breaker). Concrete pavement was constructed using forms and a slip form for concrete railing.
The IH-610 NB and SB median bridges on the southern part of IH-610 bridge are under construction.
"The next bridge to demo and reconstruct will be Conn G [NB 610 – NB 69] in April," said Perez.
Cranes / cherry pickers and manlifts are the primary equipment used. Cranes will be used to hang beams, set column and cap forms, set overhang brackets, set precast concrete panels and unload rebar/deck forms. Manlifts are used to secure overhang brackets and weld steel girder diaphragms and tighten girder bolts.
Additional work includes constructing retaining walls, detention ponds and a pump station.
The work has a considerable number of Williams Brothers and subcontractor employees on-site. The subcontractors are Mesa (rod busters), TSC (electrical), Base (storm sewer), PTC (pavement markers) and Peltier Brothers (pump stations).
The amount of materials generated by excavation and demolition operations was finalized at 310,000 cu. yds.
New materials include:
- Concrete for bridges poured: 52,561 cu. yds.;
- Retaining walls: 123,103 sq. ft.;
- Drill shafts poured: 82,963 linear ft. (15.7 mi.);
- Concrete beams: 67,464 linear ft. (12.8 mi.);
- Steel beams: 27,171 linear ft. (5.2 mi.).
Prefabricated elements are present precast concrete beams, precast bridge deck panels, precast retaining wall panels and precast concrete pipe.
Based in Houston, Williams Brothers is very meticulous about maintenance, be it immediate repairs or scheduled maintenance. The firm has on-site and area mechanics and brings in additional help as needed. The company purchases and rents equipment from regional and local dealerships. CEG
Irwin Rapoport
A journalist who started his career at a weekly community newspaper, Irwin Rapoport has written about construction and architecture for more than 15 years, as well as a variety of other subjects, such as recycling, environmental issues, business supply chains, property development, pulp and paper, agriculture, solar power and energy, and education. Getting the story right and illustrating the hard work and professionalism that goes into completing road, bridge, and building projects is important to him. A key element of his construction articles is to provide readers with an opportunity to see how general contractors and departments of transportation complete their projects and address challenges so that lessons learned can be shared with a wider audience.
Rapoport has a BA in History and a Minor in Political Science from Concordia University. His hobbies include hiking, birding, cycling, reading, going to concerts and plays, hanging out with friends and family, and architecture. He is keen to one day write an MA thesis on military and economic planning by the Great Powers prior to the start of the First World War.
Read more from Irwin Rapoport here.
Today's top stories
