Civils, Utilities & Infrastructure
SUCCESSFUL REMOVAL OF HISTORIC US 181 HARBOR BRIDGE CENTER SPAN
Project highlights safety, teamwork, and innovation
The Texas Department of Transportation( TxDOT), in coordination with project developer Flatiron / Dragados LLC( FDLLC), successfully completed the safe removal of the center span of the historic 1959 US 181 Harbor Bridge last fall. The successful endeavor marks a significant milestone for the Harbor Bridge Replacement Project located in Corpus Christi, Texas.
After more than 60 years of service, the truss-style steel bridge was replaced by a modern cable-stayed structure designed with safety improvements to better serve maritime traffic, roadway users, pedestrians, and the surrounding community. The removal of the center span was carefully planned and executed with safety, environmental stewardship, and stakeholder coordination as top priorities.
Flatiron / Dragados selected Mammoet to advise on the best and safest method to remove the old Harbor Bridge central span. TxDOT provided oversight and leadership to ensure the work met stringent safety, environmental, and operational standards.
FDLLC was responsible for coordinating aspects of the removal effort, including marine operations, construction sequencing, safety planning, and engagement with impacted stakeholders from nearby attractions to local businesses.
Mammoet provided specialized heavy-lift expertise and equipment to help identify and execute the safest and most effective method to remove the bridge’ s central span.
Choosing a safer, lower-impact solution
Multiple removal options were evaluated, including piece-by-piece dismantling and controlled explosive demolition. After thorough analysis, the project team selected a liftand-lower method that allowed the entire 2,300 tonne center span to be removed in one piece and placed onto a barge.
This approach offered several key benefits. It enhanced safety by reducing the number of workers required to operate at height. It reduced the project’ s environmental impact, by protecting a nearby aquarium and the surrounding marine environment.
The method improved navigation efficiency, allowing shipping lanes to reopen more quickly, and it also offered greater schedule certainty, through a highly controlled and predictable operation.
Lowering the span as a whole unit represented a collaborative engineering solution driven by TxDOT’ s priorities and FDLLC’ s
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