Our firm was selected as the prime engineer to develop the PS&E design for improvements to the 290E/SH130 interchange in east Austin. Within three years of opening the 290 Toll Road in 2014, commuters exceeded initial traffic projections leading to congestion at the intersection of the two high-speed, tolled facilities. Our team was tasked with designing a long-term solution: adding three direct connectors in order to provide a safe and efficient link between CTRMA’s 290 Toll and TxDOT’s SH 130 facilities. The project design also provides the construction of frontage road and ramp improvements to both SH 130 and 290 Toll including a southbound SH 130 collector-distributor road at Parmer Lane.

 

We proposed a unique design and project development approach to deliver the project within the demanding design schedule, obtaining buy-in from the primary stakeholders CTRMA and TxDOT. In lieu of a traditional 30% PS&E submittal, we developed a 30% preliminary geometric design layout that identified not only the interim improvements that would be constructed by this project but also the geometric design for the ultimate facilities to ensure their compatibility. Our 30% submittal also included over 10,000 LF of bridge layouts as well as draft geotechnical, traffic, and drainage studies.

 

The bridges on the project primarily made use of standard prestressed concrete I-girders but also implemented steel I-girders on the longer spans over the 290E and SH 130 main lanes. The aesthetic theme of the new bridges matched that of the interchange’s existing direct connector from eastbound 290E to northbound SH 130 that was built with the SH 130 corridor. One proposed direct connector tied into the existing stub out built with the existing direct connector, while the other two proposed direct connectors were constructed to include stub outs for future direct connectors to the east. Piers for these bridges were carefully designed to work with the proposed configuration and provide clearance for the future ramp and frontage road pavement without the need for reconstruction or modification.

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Services Provided:

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• Project Management

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• Structural Assessment

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• Bridge Design

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• Retaining Wall Design​​