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Contractors are currently working to clear the area for
Phase I Construction from SH 155, east to US 69. TxDOT worked
meticulously with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on the appropriate
environmental impact studies, wetland permits, and water quality
certification, to ensure minimal effect to the surrounding area. - July
2003 |
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View of work currently taking place on the east side of
SH 155 just south of Tyler. The contractor has installed silt fences and
the public can now see Loop 49 taking on a more defined outline. -
August 2003 |
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Workers are drilling the hole in which to place a
drilled shaft, which are reinforced concrete foundations for the bridge
pier. Each shaft is 48" in diameter and approximately 20’ in depth.
This section will be connected to a reinforced concrete base (the
footing) and both will be underground. - September 2003 |
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Workers are pouring concrete into the form for a footing. - October 2003 |
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This is the completed footing, a reinforced concrete base
that sits atop the drilled shafts. This section will connect to and support
the completed bridge pier. It will also be underground. - October 2003 |
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Workers are constructing a box culvert on a lower level
over which the service roads will be built. The service roads will run
adjacent to Loop 49 connecting traffic from Henry Moore Road and FM 2493, as
well as providing points of access to and from Loop 49. - October 2003 |
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Setting up reinforced steel cages for columns at Henry
Moore Road. This bridge of Loop 49 will extend over Henry Moore Road and FM
2493. These will be points of access. - November 2003 |
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Reinforced steel cage for the bridge column. - November 2003 |
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A bridge abutment which bears the rose insignia. This
rose is seen in various other locations throughout Smith County and will be
seen from either direction by motorists traveling on Loop 49 (the rose inlay
will later be painted) - November 2003 |
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Putting the reusable column form in place for the bridge
column. Concrete will then be poured inside to cure. - December 2003 |
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Removing the reusable column form. You can see the
elastomeric form-liner on the inside, which gives the column the appearance
of a brick inlay. (The brick will later be painted) - December 2003 |
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Making progress. At this point three columns have been
formed (the one closest will soon have its form removed). The road below is
Henry Miller Road and this shot is looking toward FM 2493. - December 2003 |
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This picture was taken near Saline Creek where crews are
working to build embankments. A bridge will be built over this area. - January 2004 |
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This picture is taken from atop an embankment at Saline
Creek. (The path to the side is temporary for workers to get through.) In
time, there will be a bridge built straight out from where the photographer
stands. - January 2004 |
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This picture was taken at West Mud Creek. The structures
are referred to as "bents" and will support a bridge across this winding
creek. - January 2004 |
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The west-end abutment for the bridge over FM 2493 and
Henry Miller Road gets some finishing work to smooth out the appearance of
the concrete. - January 2004 |
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Bringing it up – This picture over Henry Miller Road
shows great progress in construction. The second column has been fitted with
the reusable cap form (rectangular rust-colored top). Concrete will be
poured into the form to cure. This will be the first completed bridge pier,
but soon each pier will have a cap and, together, they will support a bridge
containing two travel lanes of Loop 49. - January 2004 |
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Fabricating rebar for the caps. One of the contractors
commented to the photographer that, in his 17 years of construction, this
was the largest steel fabrication he’d ever worked with. - January 2004 |
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