CASE STUDY 8 — Harborside & I-45 Intersection Modification
Port of Galveston Intersection Reconfiguration | Traffic & Civil Engineering

PROJECT OVERVIEW
JRH Engineering designed and implemented a rapid intersection reconfiguration at the Harborside and I-45 junction in Galveston, Texas, to allow oversized wind turbine blades to complete a critical turn through the Port of Galveston. The existing infrastructure — traffic signal boxes, poles, and storm sewer — blocked the turning radius required for the blade convoy. JRH fast-tracked approvals through three agencies simultaneously and delivered a solution that kept the port's delivery schedule intact.

AT A GLANCE

Site Civil Design

● Stabilized crushed concrete installed to expand the turning surface to accommodate the wind turbine blade convoy dimensions

● Existing storm sewer reinforced to handle the new surface load from the expanded turning area

● Traffic signal boxes relocated to clear the required turning path — executed without interrupting port operations

Traffic Control Planning

● Full traffic control plan developed for two phases: construction of the intersection modification and the actual blade movement operation

● Traffic control sequencing designed to minimize disruption to port and public traffic during both phases

● Signal relocation coordinated with the City of Galveston to maintain intersection safety throughout construction

Permitting & Agency Coordination

● Three-agency simultaneous approval: Port of Galveston, City of Galveston, and TxDOT

● Fast-tracked review process aligned with the port's delivery schedule — sequential permitting was not an option given the timeline

● All construction and operational traffic control plans approved before the blade convoy move date

THE CHALLENGE
Wind turbine blades don't wait. The Port of Galveston had a scheduled delivery, and the convoy couldn't make the turn at Harborside and I-45 without modifications to the intersection. Traffic signal infrastructure, poles, and the existing storm sewer were all in the way — and the fix needed to be designed, permitted, and built before the blades arrived.

JRH's Approach
JRH identified the three elements blocking the turn — the turning surface area, the storm sewer capacity under the expanded surface, and the signal box positions — and designed solutions for all three simultaneously. Crushed concrete expanded the turning radius. Storm sewer reinforcement handled the new load. Signal boxes were relocated. All three approvals — Port of Galveston, City of Galveston, and TxDOT — were pursued at the same time. A full traffic control plan covered both the construction phase and the blade movement itself.

The Result
The intersection was reconfigured, permitted, and ready before the convoy arrived. The port's delivery schedule was maintained without disruption.

RESULTS

● Port delivery schedule maintained — intersection reconfigured and permitted before the wind turbine blade convoy arrived

● Three-agency approval (Port of Galveston, City of Galveston, TxDOT) completed simultaneously — no sequential delays

● Full traffic control plan developed for both construction and convoy operation phases