Matt Kainer, with the Harris County Toll Road Authority, is the Construction Site Manager for the Beltway 8 Ship Channel Bridge project.  The new Beltway 8 Ship Channel Bridge will double its current capacity. Currently, there are two lanes in each direction, and no shoulders. The new bridge will have four 12’ lanes in each direction plus a 10’ shoulder on each side. The southbound lanes will be constructed first, then traffic will be shifted to allow demolition of the existing bridge, and then the northbound lanes will be constructed. By flattening out the grade of the bridge approaches and the curves, it will be rated for a full 65 mph limit. The new bridge pylons will be out of the water, allowing the Port to dredge the channel wider and accommodate larger ships.

Demolition of the old bridge will be the largest project of its kind ever undertaken. The bridge will be disassembled in pieces, in the same sequence it was built. Construction may be viewed at www.shipchannelbridge.org.

Paula Torrado Plazas, Air Alliance Houston (AAH), described the goals and results of the nonprofit group’s Pasadena Project.  Some of the project goals included building community awareness regarding air pollution; educating Pasadena decision-makers about air pollution and potential health impacts for residents; and advocating for an anti-idling ordinance in the City of Pasadena.  AAH surveyed four neighborhoods within the city regarding health and collected 1,360 completed surveys from north Pasadena neighborhoods with elementary schools that are near refineries, chemical plants, major highways and heavy truck traffic. AAH will be working on the Safer Routes to School Project, which is a pilot project to test the use of sidewalks and bike lanes if they are installed in an area that lacks them.  This will include temporary sidewalks and bike lanes.

Downloads:
Agenda 8-23-18
Meeting notes 8-23-18
Presentation slides (Air Alliance Houston)  8-23-18

Posted in Emissions, Transportation, Uncategorized