Bigge Machinery Shines on the Largest Bridge Project in the United States

Located between Corpus Christi and Rincon Point is the Harbor Bridge on US Highway 181. It has been over 55 years since the Harbor Bridge was completed in 1959 and it is considered to be the site of the biggest construction bridge project in the United States. The current Harbor Bridge carries six lanes of traffic across one of the busiest seaports in the U.S.

Construction of the new bridge began in 2016. It will allow larger ships to pass beneath the bridge on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. When completed, the new bridge will solve many of the existing waterway and auto traffic problems in and around the harbor. In addition to car and ship traffic, the bridge will also allow bikes and pedestrian access, making it a multi-use bridge. 

Bigge currently has the following fleet on rent at the jobsite: a Liebherr LR1300SX, two Kobelco CK1100G-IIs, a Kobelco CK1600G, a Kobelco CK2000, two American HC275s, a Liebherr LR1200SX and a Grove RT880E. The cranes will be on rent from 1 – 3 years and used for pile driving, hanging bridge beams, handling material in the pre-cast yard, setting rebar cages, and more. The heaviest lifts of the project are expected to be up to 250,000 lbs. and the most challenging aspect of the project has been the pile driving application, because the 120-foot length of the piles combined with the weight of 120,000 lbs. is an uncommon combination. Additionally, another unique aspect of this project is that the customer has their own precast yard onsite, allowing Bigge to handle the lifts and placement of bridge deck pieces from the local yard as the project progresses. 

Bigge’s experience, access to a variety of equipment, and vast knowledge of crane applications has placed the Bigge team as the leading choice for the New Harbor Bridge constructors. Bigge looks forward to continuing work as construction progresses. The Harbor Bridge Construction Project is slated to be completed by 2021.