A settlement has been achieved in Texas for the Harbor Bridge project in Corpus Christi. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) reached the US$400 million settlement with the Flatiron/Dragados joint venture.
The bridge project is expected to cost $1.2 billion. The settlement agreed is to be paid in a series of installments. The new bridge will replace the existing arched structure which is no longer able to cope with traffic and transport demands.
Construction of the bridge was halted in 2022 due to a series of design problems. This stoppage followed on from Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issuing a note of default in August of 2022 due to the problems over the design.
Completion of the bridge is now expected in 2025. Once complete, the new Harbor Bridge will be the tallest point in South Texas and the longest cable-stayed bridge in the United States. The new bridge design incorporates a number of aesthetic features including a shared-use path, a community plaza, nighttime LED lighting, and xeriscape landscaping. In all, the TxDOT project includes design and construction of just over 10km of bridge and connecting roadway.
The new link will join SH 286 the southern end and US 181 at the northern end. Construction started in August 2016 and was due for completion by the second quarter of 2020. However, the project has been delayed due to a number of issues.
