Mesquite, TX – Sept. 27, 2022 –  As a result of the flooding caused by the torrential rainfall on August 22^nd, the pedestrian bridge over South Mesquite Creek in the Bruton Sports Complex was washed downstream. Flood waters carried the bridge under the Cartwright Road bridge before finally settling in Hodges Park. The steel pedestrian bridge, measuring 94 feet long and 7.5 feet wide is estimated to weigh approximately 20,000 lbs. City staff reached out to McIntyre Towing in Mesquite, to utilize two heavy-duty wreckers with extendable booms to lift the bridge out of South Mesquite Creek and place it in Hodges Park where the bridge could be assessed for damage. The next task at hand was to relocate the bridge from Hodges Park back upstream to the Bruton Sports Complex. City staff made contact with several mobile home transport companies and helicopter lift services. Staff found that the weight of the bridge exceeded the capabilities of the available helicopters and the length of the bridge made the tight turns nearly impossible for transport companies to maneuver through the parks without damaging trees, soccer fields, park monuments, playground equipment, street lighting and power poles.

On September 9^th, staff from Streets, Utilities, Solid Waste, Equipment Services and Parks met at Hodges Park to develop a plan and iron out the logistics to move the bridge with City staff and equipment. To complete this task, it would take coordination from within the various divisions of Public Works along with Parks and Recreation and the Mesquite Police Department. The operation was scheduled for Friday, September 23^rd at 9:30 a.m.

Highly-skilled operators were selected for the large excavators to lift the bridge onto a lowboy trailer, which was pulled behind a Solid Waste transfer station truck. Once the bridge was on the trailer, it would be chained in a manner to allow one end of the bridge to pivot while the other end of the bridge could swing freely and be maneuvered around obstacles by an excavator. Once the bridge reached Cartwright Road, Mesquite Police Officers blocked traffic so that the bridge could be guided into the westbound lanes. The bridge was carefully transported over the Cartwright bridge, under low-hanging power lines, and then unloaded in Cartwright Road, along the Bruton Sports Complex.  Two excavators once again lifted the bridge off of the trailer, moved it down the embankment, guided it around the soccer fields and placed it next to the creek where it will be repaired and scheduled for placement back on the bridge abutments.

The move took 3 hours and saved the residents of Mesquite an estimated $200,000 by moving the bridge in-house.

Staff Involved:

Public Works:

Curt Cassidy, P.E. – Director of Public Works

Tony Douglas – Manager of Streets

Russell Mask - Asst. Manager of Streets

Joe Williams – Supervisor, Streets

Jimmy Monroy – Supervisor, Streets

Ralph Molina – Crew Chief, Streets

Rudy Silva – Crew Chief, Streets

David Flores – Equipment Operator, Streets

Ronald Aldridge – Manager of Solid Waste

Timothy Fuller – Asst. Manager of Solid Waste

Kenneth Machala – Supervisor, Solid Waste

Chris Bombe – Heavy Equipment Operator, Solid Waste

Dustin Aldridge – Manager of Utilities

Joey Arriaga – Asst. Manager of Utilities

Khris Bender – Crew Chief, Utilities

Josh Barnes – Crew Chief, Utilities

Devin Edwards – Maintenance Worker II, Utilities

Jarrod Beck – Equipment Mechanic III, Equipment Services

Parks & Recreation:

Elizabeth Harrell – Director of Parks and Recreation

Chad Krajca – Manager of Park Services

Will Bedford – Supervisor, Parks

Mesquite Police Department:

Aaron Paredes – Police Officer, Mesquite Police Department

Colton Ables – Police Officer, Mesquite Police Department