CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Residents who have been directly impacted by the construction of the new Harbor Bridge are those who live on North Beach.
Residents there got an update on the progress of the construction efforts Thursday night.
3NEWS reported last month on the Leopard Street Bridge being opened to traffic after it had been closed for about 2 years. This winter, there is another big traffic adjustment taking place at the south approach, the Corpus Christi side.
This, as more crews are set to transition to help with construction on the part of the bridge that goes over the water.
North Beach resident Carrie Robertson said the billion-dollar project is something she has had a front row seat to since the very beginning.
"1,000 foot from my door, this project is a 1,000 foot from my door," she said.
Robertson is one of the handful of residents who received an update on all the construction underway for the new bridge as they watch it take shape.
"Now we can really see, that is where I'm going to get on I'm going to be driving up that thing," she said.
Fellow North Beach resident Ron Graban said that he is impressed with how far the project has come.
"Just fascinating to see the progress like a puzzle all coming together," he said.
Flatiron Dragados spokesperson Lynn Allison is keeping the group in the loop on it's progress and what is happening next. Starting this weekend, crews will begin to run the third permanent cable out of the 19 sets of stay cables on the north tower. Soon after, she said drivers will start to see a traffic switch at the south interchange.
"We'll be transitioning traffic onto new IH-37 main lanes in the coming month or two," she said. "As far as North Beach, specifically focused on adding additional signage delineating the two way east causeway Blvd. We have initiatives for cleanup underway with our sweeping operations vacuuming the sidewalks."
There will also be a shift of crews to focus on the continued efforts at the main stay portion of the bridge, that part that goes over the water.
"Out of 2651 segments in Robstown we have ten remaining, transitioning crews from the pre cast yard in Robstown to training folks really skilled craftsmen working on the pylon upper tower lifts also working on the median slabs installing the segments and lifting the segments on the main span and back span side," he said.
The new Harbor Bridge is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2025. As for the current bridge, efforts are underway to pick a subcontractor for its demolition.
"Phase two construction will begin immediately," she said. "The demolition will come within a few months, we will start after we open the new bridge to traffic. Phase two is significant and it's not just bringing down the existing bridge removing all the embankment and connecting bridges and ramps on and off the existing bridge."
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