Bridge at Horseshoe Bay – Resort community in the Texas Hill Country

Request

Speed Fab Crete was commissioned to design and construct a new bridge in Horseshoe Bay, Texas, replacing a hazardous "low water" crossing that had been a long-standing issue in the Texas Hill Country resort town known for its scenic vistas and recreational amenities.

Solution

The closing of the roadway for construction was a major inconvenience to the residents, so a fast-track schedule was required. In addition, the project required a 30-foot-wide roadway with enough waterway area to carry a 100-year rain event, and, an existing golf cart path was to remain intact. Speed Fab-Crete designed, manufactured, and installed a three-sided concrete arch bridge system with a clear-span, twin-cell arch box bridge structure. Each cell has a 36-foot span with an 8-foot rise, and each arch has a concrete strength of 5,000 psi capable of carrying HS25 axle-loads of 40,000 pounds. Local materials were utilized in its construction, including Texas Limestone to enhance the bridge’s exterior.  

Results

Although the narrow roadway (leading to the bridge) made transporting and setting large arch pieces challenging, Speed Fab Crete’s precast concrete arch bridge system met the quick time requirements and was built under the City's budget. The new bridge now enables large trucks and trailers to move across the creek safely without the problem of getting stuck with a heavy load because of the incline and wet tires.  In addition, it enables residents of Horseshoe Bay to continue traveling along Bay West Boulevard during severe storms and enables golfers to travel under the bridge to the next hole.