Direct Connectors at Beltway 8/Hardy Toll Road Intersection
SALIENT FEATURES
Field Investigations
Roadway Design
Bridge Design
Retaining Wall Design
Structural Concrete Design
Structural Analysis
Construction Cost: $400M
CLIENT
Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA)
LOCATION:
Harris County, Texas
BACKGROUND
The HCTRA Hardy Direct Connectors (DCs) Project is an interchange upgrade with the primary objective of adding seven (7) additional DCs to the intersection of the Hardy Toll Road and Sam Houston Toll Expressway (SHTE). This intersection is located in North Houston, near the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The existing intersection has one direct connector from SHTE Eastbound to Hardy Toll Road Northbound; however, traffic modeling indicated the need for the construction of additional DCs to provide complete free flowing direct connection between the two toll facilities.
PROJECT FEATURE
The main feature of the Hardy DC project is seven (7) DC bridges which will join all lanes of the Hardy Toll Road with SHTE roadways. Phase 1 PS&E package consists of complete design of 3 DC, modification to existing SHTE to tie-in EBSB DC, modification of SHPE bridge span 10 to create provision for DC column foundation, entrance ramp bridge over P144 outfall, retaining walls and roadway improvements along SHTE and Hardy Toll Road to accommodate the new DCs. Also, modifications to several entrance and exit ramps and the frontage roads are needed.
RELEVANT SERVICES
On the Hardy DC project infraTECH is working as one of the prime structural engineering consultants. In this role, infraTECH is working on the following:
• Design of the EBSB DC that includes a continuous 3 span curved steel girder unit with a maximum span of 270 ft, as well as seven (7) simply supported prestressed concrete girder spans with a total length of 798 ft.
• Widening of six (6) spans, total length 390 ft of the SHTE ML bridge to tie-in with the EBSB DC.
• Span 10 modification of SHTE ML roadway to create provisions to allow NBWB DC bent column construction along SHTE median.
• Design a segment of NBWB DC consists of a 240 ft long steel span and fourteen (14) simply supported prestressed concrete girder spans with a total length of 1800 ft.
• Entrance ramp bridge design over P144 outfall.