Speaker: Jorge D. Hinojosa, P.E., General Manager, Bexar Concrete Works, Ltd.

Jorge has over 35 years of experience in the Precast/Prestress industry. In that time he has served on the engineering and on the construction project side. He has extensive experience in the concrete industry as well as in the concrete post-tension and grouting. Currently, he is the president of the Precast Concrete Manufacture’s Association – Texas-Oklahoma-New Mexico.

Topic: FM 457 Bridge Replacement of the last Swing Bridge in the state of Texas

The FM 457 swing bridge in Sargent, TX was in need of replacement because of its age and the high maintenance costs associated with its upkeep. TxDOT proposed to replace the swing bridge with a concrete bridge that would span the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to provide access for residents on the south side of the waterway.

TxDOT designed a “corkscrew bridge” to replace the swing bridge. The limited space along FM 457, combined with the height requirement for a replacement structure to accommodate barge traffic through the waterway, made the corkscrew bridge the optimal design for the site.

Bexar Concrete Works teamed up with Modjeski and Masters to redesign the project’s prestress elements and design prestress/precast bent caps.