Moody Bridge, University of Texas
Austin, Texas
Award of Merit
General Contractor Flintco LLC
Owner University of Texas at Austin
Lead Design Rosales + Partners
Structural Freese and Nichols Inc.
Civil Chan & Partners Engineering LLC
MEP Jose I. Guerra Inc.
According to the design team, Moody Bridge is the first pedestrian bridge in the U.S. to use an inverted Fink Truss design, which supports the span from a single central tower resting on the traffic median below.
Along the span, diagonal rods connect a series of slender steel vertical masts that vary in height and scale. To avoid any downward pull on the existing buildings, initial construction placed the bridge out of vertical alignment at one end. Then that end was drawn downward and locked into the correct position to create uplift reactions at each end of the span.
The center tower consists of two supporting shafts set in the center of West Dean Keeton Street. Teams timed construction to take place during winter break so the street could be closed for placement of the shafts and deck. This project adhered to a very tight construction schedule and was completed on time and within budget.
