BRAZOS RIVER FLOOD GATES
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Stakeholder Involvement
TxDOT Maritime Division
August 4, 2015
Texas Department of Transportation
MISSION STATEMENT
Work with others to provide safe and reliable transportation
solutions for Texas.
GOALS
• Maintain a safe system
• Address congestion
• Connect Texas communities
• Become best-in-class state agency
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Maritime Division
The Maritime Division promotes the development and intermodal
connectivity of Texas ports, waterways and marine infrastructure and
operations.
 In 1975 TxDOT was named the official non-federal sponsor for the
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in the Texas Coastal Waterway
Act
 Maritime recently developed a GIWW Master Plan and the Master
Plan stakeholders group determined that the Brazos River
Floodgates represent the greatest challenge in terms of safety and
efficiency anywhere on the entire GIWW
 TxDOT has initiated the federally required feasibility study on the
Floodgates to determine what action needs to be taken to address
the safety and efficiency concerns at the structure.
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Brazos River Floodgates
 Antiquated structure of the gates is not adequate to
accommodate modern waterway operations, causing
inefficiencies and safety concerns
 Cost of tripping/impacts: Over $12 million per year
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Stakeholders Group
In a Civil Works planning study such as the Brazos River
Floodgates (BRFG) Feasibility Study, public involvement,
coordination, and collaboration is crucial to successfully
conducting a study.
TxDOT Maritime is forming a stakeholders group for the BRFG
feasibility study to solicit input from users of the floodgates as to
operation concerns and solutions to existing problems. TxDOT will
open and maintain channels of communication with the public in
order to give full consideration to user views and insight in the
planning process.
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Stakeholders Group
Objectives of Public Involvement:
 Provide information about proposed activities to the public.
 Make the public's desires, needs, and concerns known to
decision-makers.
 Provide for consultation with the public before decisions are
reached.
 Consider the public's views in reaching decisions.
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Stakeholders Group
Be a Part of the Solution
 We will be meeting with stakeholders immediately following this
presentation.
 We will also meet directly after the close of the GICA Seminar
tomorrow at noon for those who can not meet with us today.
 Interested parties may also contact Matthew Mahoney at
[email protected] or (512) 486-5630 to be involved
with the stakeholders group.
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Brazos River Floodgates Feasibility Study Goals
 Identify an engineering solution to improve navigation safety
and efficiency at the intersection of the GIWW and Brazos River
 The solution will be evaluated and selected based on following
criteria:
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Improvements to navigation safety and efficiency
Impacts to flooding and sedimentation of GIWW from the Brazos River
Impacts on the environment
Capital and maintenance costs and economic benefit
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Project Delivery Team (PDT) Organization
TxDOT
Project Manager
Matthew Mahoney
Independent
Technical Review
TBD
Project Delivery Team
Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM)
Project Manager
Hugo Bermudez, PE, D.CE
USACE
Liaison
Chris Salles, PMP
Environmental
Blanton & Associates
Engineering
Tetra Tech / HMM
Economic Analysis
Martin Associates
Task Leader
Kim Jenkins-Johnson
Task Leader
for H&H Analysis
Josh Carter, PE, D.CE
Task Leader
John Martin, PhD
Assistant Task Leader
Jason Schindler
TxDOT Maritime Division
Task Leader
for Gate/Lock Design
Greg Katzenberger, PE
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Elements of Study
 Engineering Analysis and Design
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Data Collection
Development of Alternatives
Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis/Modeling
Coastal Engineering Analysis
Gate/Lock Engineering Design
Alternatives Analysis and Evaluation
 Environmental Analysis and Documentation
– Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Preparation
 Economic Analysis
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Existing Conditions
Project Costs
Project Benefits
Benefit-to-Cost Ratio
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Critical Path Schedule
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Approach to Identify Preferred Engineering Solution
 Understanding of the problem
 Types of Engineering solutions
– Navigation Modifications
– Hydraulic Modifications
– Structural Modifications
 Analysis of alternatives
TxDOT Maritime Division
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One Problem – Multiple Factors
 Barges are larger now
– current configuration of the flood gates was designed during a time
when barges were smaller and pulled rather than pushed by tugs.
 Collisions and damages
– 45 degree turn at the Brazos River crossing and the short distance
between the gates makes it very difficult for tug captains to make
the necessary alignment corrections especially when the Brazos
River is at flood stage.
 Lack of efficiency
– when the river is at flood stage, barge tows must be broken and
tripped one by one across the river for safety. The tripping activity is
inefficient, causes congestion and diminishes the economic value of
the entire waterway.
 Hydraulics and Sedimentation along GIWW and Freeport
Ship Channel
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Structural Measures
 Move the gates back away from the river.
 Increase the width of the channel through the gates.
 Reconfigure the guide wall to lessen its angle to the GIWW.
 Create a guide to pivot against.
 Straighten the crossing at the river, aligning the GIWW at a near90-degree angle with the Brazos River. The old bypass channel
might be used for this purpose, or the new channel could be
routed between the old bypass channel and the existing
channel.
 Construct a true lock on the west end of the Brazos River
Floodgates.
 Establish a more direct outlet for the San Bernard River.
 Remove the floodgates and dredge to maintain the crossing.
TxDOT Maritime Division
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TxDOT Maritime Division
Complex Hydrodynamics &
Sedimentation
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Innovative Engineering Solutions in 3 Categories
1. Navigation Modifications
2. Hydraulic Modifications
3. Structural Modifications
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Challenging Navigation: Narrow Gates
Possible Solutions:
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TxDOT Maritime Division
Structural Modification
Channel Realignment
Change Gate Location
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Challenging Navigation: Tight Maneuver
Possible Solutions:
• Modify (straighten) alignment [Navigation]
• Space gates further from river [Navigation]
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Challenging Navigation: tight maneuver with flow gradients
Possible Solutions:
• Stilling basin [Hydraulic]
• Modify (straighten) alignment [Navigation]
• Space gates further from river [Navigation]
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Current Locations
Existing
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Current Locations
New Alignment
Concept 1
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Current Locations
Proposed Locations
New Alignment
Concept 1
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Current Locations
Proposed Locations
New Alignment
Concept 2
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Current Locations
Concept 3
TxDOT Maritime Division
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Proposed Locations
Concept 3
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deepen
Proposed Locations
New Cut
Concept 3
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Comprehensive Modeling
 Hydrodynamics
 Hydraulics / Structure Interaction
 Salinity intrusion
 Sediment Transport Pathways
 Sedimentation
Brazos River area
Hydrodynamics
TxDOT Maritime Division
Sediment Transport
Hydraulics &
Structure Interaction
Brazos Locks
Hydrodynamics
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Comprehensive Modeling
 Vessel hydrodynamics
 Desktop maneuverability and
navigation simulation
 Full-bridge navigation simulation
 All coupled with custom
hydrodynamic models of the site and
alternatives
Complex Vessel
Hydrodynamics
TxDOT Maritime Division
Desktop Barge Navigation Simulation
Direct interface with
Full-Bridge Navigation Simulation
(photo courtesy of MITAGS-PMI)
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Structural Innovation
Innovation in the Floodgates
 Minimizing the operating weight of the floodgate
 Minimizing the surface area of the structural components
 Minimizing down-time for the floodgates is achieved with
innovative structural design.
Innovation in other Structures
 Constructing a true lock West Brazos River Floodgate
(with both upstream and downstream gates)
 Constructing a Guide Pivot Structure or Guide Wall
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Floodgate Design
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Alternatives Matrix – Identifying the Best Solution
We have used this approach:
1. Savannah Harbor Expansion
• 6 mitigation plans
2. IHNC Surge Barrier
• 12 Different Barrier Options
• 7 Different Gate Options
3. Calcasieu Ship Channel
• 3 concepts, 28 alternatives
TxDOT Maritime Division
Calcasieu Ship Channel
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BRAZOS RIVER FLOOD GATES
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Stakeholder Involvement
TxDOT Maritime Division
August 4, 2015