A 720-acre gated master planned community located off Telge Road, just north of Willow Creek. See how EHRA was involved in this project.
The purpose of this project was to convert the existing at-grade crossing of Brazoria County Road 56 (CR 56) and State Highway 288 (SH 288) into a diamond interchange that includes a new overpass bridge. Coordination with TXDOT, area landowners, utility companies, and Brazoria County was integral in obtaining approval and acceptance of the project.
EHRA was selected by the client to provide engineering design and to serve as District Engineer for the 2,400 acre Towne Lake Development. Our survey department retraced the overall boundary and performed a topographic survey of the site.
The facility features an activated sludge process system. Additionally, the facility is equipped with an emergency standby diesel generator.
Engineering design and construction phase services of water, sewer, drainage and paving for four subdivision sections and off-site channel (123 acres out of a 400 acre subdivision). There was 60-feet of elevation difference on this site and wooded lots were left in their natural state which required the installation of retaining walls.
Bad weather can happen anywhere and at any time. In the past, bridges were designed and built specifically to a standard degree. However, flaws and unexpected damage affecting the overall structural integrity result in extreme safety hazards for the thousands that cross them. It is because of this that engineering has evolved to anticipate the inevitable and the unpredictable.
In 1971, a dozen of bridges collapsed onto freeways in California during an earthquake. When events like this happen, engineers observe what went wrong and how to fix bridge designs and strengthen existing bridges. After learning that different designs need to be put in place, now, bridges in California have metal retainer cables that tie the bridges down. Having restrainers put in place cause the bridge to place support on the piers so they do not fall down. Also, engineers are building shake tables where they can test simulations of an earthquakes shaking on a bridge.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, engineers discovered the impact that water has on bridges. Bridges in and around the New Orleans area were severely damaged from the storm surges. Now, engineers are building bridges high enough so no waves touch any side. Also, new models are in place to see the impact on waves and bridges.
According to Dr. Michael Chajes, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Delaware, it is imperative in designing bridges to have backup systems in place. He uses the comparison to flying a plane and taking precaution to make sure everything goes smoothly. “The component you really don’t want things to go wrong with is the engine, and airplanes are designed to be able to fly with one engine.” Chajes said. “Even if it started out with four engines, in theory, if three of them went bad, the fourth one would still be enough for the pilot to land safely.”