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Texas to help pay for larger Fort Worth & Western bridge
2.5 years? Politics, methinks!
The time required is not unreasonable. Before starting on the new bridge, the existing rail line needs to be temporarily diverted around the site. Some property acquisition and land clearance may be required before construction of the diversion can start. Then there is the need for a temporary railroad bridge over the highway. Quite possibly the road will require some diversion too.
Finally construction of the new bridge can get underway. Concrete, once poured, requires time to cure before the next phase can start. Most road/rail grade separations use concrete spans as well as abutments.
When at last the railroad is back on its original alignment using the new bridge, there will be considerable additional work removing the temporary bridge and rails, and then finishing up the new wider highway.
Before the new bridge can be built, necessary engineering has to be done. Can not start engineering until right of way is determined.
Haven’t seen that bridge in 20+ years and my memory may be blurred, but 2 1/2 years seems like a long time.
Perhaps someone should apply a critical path analysis and improve that schedule?
Lets see: route engineering, ROW acquisition (if indeed needed), structural engineering, bidding, contracting, drill piers, form and pour footings, erect steel (or prestress concrete) bridge spans etc.
If properly scheduled, concrete would be poured in plenty of time for usual 28 day cure in order to accept full design loads. Properly designed and placed concrete often has 75% of its design capacity in two weeks or less.
If schedule is tight, adjusting cement content and/or admixtures within concrete mix design would solve that problem.
Texas highway dept. has never been noted for their speed when scheduling and completing projects.