Contact:

Kelli Petras
Phone:

(214) 320-4482
 

October 22, 2008

 

Emergency Demolition of SH 310 Bridge Begins Immediately

WHAT: SH 310 (S. Central Expressway) bridge demolition and media event

WHEN: Wednesday, October 22 at 6 p.m.

WHERE: North side of the SH 310 bridge at U.S. 175 (C.F. Hawn Freeway) in Dallas County

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is wasting no time letting an emergency contract with AUI Contractors, Inc. of Fort Worth, who will begin demolishing the SH 310 bridge over U.S. 175 at 6 p.m. today. Demolition is necessary after TxDOT bridge engineers determined the bridge was damaged beyond repair following a fuel truck collision and explosion on Sunday, Oct. 12.

AUI Contractors, Inc. has already mobilized their crews and equipment to the demolition site and is expected to employ heavy equipment crushers and jack hammers that will literally tear the bridge structure apart.

All lanes of SH 310 will remain closed in both directions until the bridge can be rebuilt; however, TxDOT has set a deadline to reopen the mainlanes of U.S. 175 by Friday, Oct. 31. Detour routes (attached) have been established and signed to assist motorists and consist of:

  • Southbound SH 310/Eastbound U.S. 175 (map #1)
    • Mainlane traffic will detour onto eastbound Hatcher Street, then will turn right onto southbound 2nd Avenue
    • Traffic will then merge onto eastbound U.S. 175
    • Traffic wishing to continue to SH 310 will continue along U.S. 175, then turn on westbound Loop 12, and will be able to re-enter north or southbound SH 310
  • Northbound SH 310/Westbound U.S. 175 (map #2)
    • Mainlane traffic will detour onto eastbound U.S. 175 to Bexar Street, then will cross under U.S. 175 and head westbound along U.S. 175
    • Traffic will then be able to re-enter northbound SH 310
  • Alternate route using I-45 (map #3)
    • Mainlane traffic will be able to avoid the detour by heading southbound on I-45, then exiting eastbound Loop 12
    • Traffic will then merge onto east or westbound U.S. 175

TxDOT is working diligently to restore the bridge structure and anticipate having the bridge complete and open by Dec. 15, 2008, or earlier. TxDOT asks the traveling public to be patient and remain aware when traveling through the work zone.