Photograph courtesy of TxDOT
The {hardware} went to TxDOT’s $217 million State Freeway 146 Growth Challenge, which incorporated the development of a 2.1-mi. specific bridge in addition to sidewalks, shared-used lanes and a mile-long motorbike lane.
On the 2024 WASHTO convention in Omaha, Neb., TxDOT used to be offered with the award for Protection via The us’s Transportation Awards.
The {hardware} went to TxDOT’s $217 million State Freeway 146 Growth Challenge, which incorporated the development of a 2.1-mile specific bridge in addition to sidewalks, shared-used lanes, and a mile-long motorbike lane.
“The aim of this mission used to be to handle design deficiencies at the roadway that a great deal impacted the security and mobility of the hall and the economic system of surrounding communities,” mentioned Jamal Elahi, TxDOT Houston District house engineer. “Such communities had a loss of storm evacuation routes, loss of pedestrian/bicycle amenities, greater congestion, and extra.
The brand new specific bridge diverts high-speed, freight visitors from native lanes, bettering visitors scenarios in native spaces with colleges, companies and citizens. It additionally supplies a competent, high-capacity evacuation direction within the match of hurricanes for coastal communities.
SH 146 runs thru Seabrook and Kemah, well-liked vacationer locations that welcome masses of 1000’s of tourists yearly. To extend protection for pedestrians, cyclists and golfing cart customers, a 14-foot-wide shared used lane used to be added to the frontage roads and arterial lanes in addition to sidewalks.
TxDOT additionally partnered with the towns of Kemah and Seabrook to construct a 14-foot-wide, 1-mile-long bikeway with barrier coverage.
This 12 months, The us’s Transportation Awards presented Protection as a brand new class, aimed to have a good time tasks that had been initiated to handle protection considerations and effectively did so.
“I felt extremely pleased with the crew that delivered this mission,” Elahi mentioned. “From the TxDOT designers on the Houston District, to the realm engineers and mission managers who’ve controlled it, to the CEI crew who inspected it, the contractor who constructed it and the communities who lived thru it and supported the mission.
“This used to be in reality a crew effort and can supply lengthy lasting protection, mobility and financial advantages to street customers and communities.”
