US-183 Viaduct
Location: Austin, TX Contract Value:
The US-183 Viaduct in Austin is a precast segmental structure consisting of multiple spans totaling over 7.3 kilometres. Normally, a crane is set on the bridge or on the ground but neither could be done in this project. A hydraulic segment lifter was designed specifically for this project-a variation from normal constructing methods.
Somerset conceived, designed and built the hydraulic powered "Texas Lifter." The lifter unloaded the 65-tonne segments from the delivery truck, trolley-ed them ahead to the cantilevered portion, then rotated and lowered the segment onto self-launching assembly trusses designed by Somerset. Seventeen segments in a span were stressed together and jacked down onto the piers, then the lifter self-powered ahead to the next span. Up to four 40-metre spans were installed per week using these methods. Over 3,000 segments were erected with the lifter that was compact enough to be shipped on three trucks.
