TxDOT awarded a statewide indefinite deliverable contract for bridge engineering to DCCM for bridge engineering services. For work authorization No. 1, DCCM was awarded a project in Brazoria County to prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for bridges at three intersections along SH 288. The project required the design of new overpass structures at the intersections of SH 288 with CR 57 and CR 64, the widening of an existing structure at SH 288 and CR 56, and two frontage-road creek-crossing bridges. The structural designs ranged from TxDOT-standard multi-column TxGirders for stream crossings to green ribbon overpasses with U-beams and inverted tees with skews, to modified details with TxGirders. The designs addressed utility conflicts, wetland and stream impacts, skewing, and embankment settlement mitigation. We provided bridge layout plan sheets for each bridge and a comparative cost analysis. The team set bridge spans and limits to achieve optimal beam design and vertical clearance.

CR 57

• Constructed new location CR 57 cross-street bridge (DCCM)
• Added ramps
• Added auxiliary lanes
•  Constructed two frontage road bridges

CR 64

•  Constructed new location CR 64 cross-street bridge (DCCM)
• Added ramps
• Added auxiliary lanes

CR 56

• Widened the existing CR 56 bridge (another consultant)
• Added frontage roads
• Added auxiliary lanes

Design aspects of the project included surveying, geotechnical engineering, bridge design, roadway design, drainage, environmental engineering, and subsurface utility engineering. As the prime provider of the project, DCCM held an e-mail version of the design concept conference before the 30% submittal. The project milestones were 30%, 60%, 90%, 95%, 100%, and the final milestone. DCCM’s engineers coordinated closely with the adjacent segment engineers to assure continuity of design across segment lines. DCCM presented several typical section options to TxDOT prior to beginning the design to ensure TxDOT’s needs were prioritized. The chosen roadway section included a 16-foot median, four 12-foot lanes, two 12-foot shoulders, and a 5-foot, 6-inch sidewalk with C223 rail. The overall roadway width is 103 feet. The project included converting two-way frontage roads to one-way operations. The team used Atlas 14 to determine the floodplain width for the frontage road bridges over West Fork Chocolate Bayou at CR 5.