Concrete Demolition and Removal in Texarkana, Texas
Slab, pavement, footing and dock pit removal on redevelopment and highway sites in Bowie County, with scanning, hauling, recycling and a clean base.
Of the 15,588.85 acres the Army began with at the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, 14,291.87 have been conveyed and 1,296.98 remain, according to the Army BRAC record. Land that changes hands that way comes with old concrete: igloos, loading docks, production floors, foundations and roads. Taking it out is its own job.
We demolish and remove concrete slabs, footings, walls, pavement, curbs, dock pits and foundations, and we haul and process what comes out. Some jobs are a single driveway. Others clear a building pad down to the subgrade, or open a corridor for a new utility line. The task looks straightforward until the first break reveals a double mat of steel, a buried tank or a utility nobody told you about.
We plan removal as a sequence: find what is there, isolate it, break it in manageable pieces, load and haul it, then leave a base that the next contractor can use. Cleaning the ground matters as much as removing the slab.
Why removal work comes up here
Redevelopment is the main reason. The BRAC page for the former ammunition plant says TexAmericas Center in New Boston acts as the local redevelopment authority. In April 2021 the center announced that removal of the Army's RCRA permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality opened more than 6,800 acres of additional shovel-ready ground. New tenants need clean pads, and old structures sometimes stand in the way.
Highways are another source. TxDOT's I-30 widening in Bowie County replaces asphalt with continuously reinforced concrete pavement, and the US 82 widening relocates an existing trail about 25 feet south and reconstructs ramps at US 259. Existing pavement, curbs and structures come out before new work goes in. We handle similar tasks for municipal and public works owners, from a few feet of curb to a block of roadway.
What we remove and how
Methods follow the material. Thin slabs and pavement are sawcut into panels and lifted with an excavator. Thick footings and foundation blocks are broken with a hydraulic hammer or pulverized. Walls come down in sections or are cut with a wall saw for safety. Heavily reinforced pieces may need torch cutting for bars after concrete is stripped.
Underground items are part of the scope. Old utility lines, tanks, sumps and grease traps often show up under a floor. We locate them with ground-penetrating radar and utility locates, expose them, and coordinate removal or abandonment with the proper trades. Demolition may be tied to sawing and coring on one end and over-excavation and recompaction on the other, so the ground can accept new construction.
Dust, noise and unknowns
Demolition is where surprises live. Before a slab comes out, we look for asbestos in joint fillers and mastics, lead paint on walls and any residue from past operations. On former industrial or military land, we ask the owner for environmental records and refuse to disturb soil that has not been cleared. We follow any limits the owner sets on dust, noise and vehicle movement.
Crews work with silica controls, water for dust suppression, hearing protection and exclusion zones around machines. Falling pieces are the hazard on wall and elevated work, so we cut in sequence from the top down and brace what remains. Haul trucks are loaded away from foot traffic and covered when leaving the site. A spotter watches blind angles around machines.
Rebar, recycling and what comes next
Concrete removal produces tons of material, and what happens to it affects cost. Clean concrete can be crushed and reused as base or fill if the owner and engineer accept it. Steel bars are separated and recycled. Mixed or contaminated debris must go to a landfill that accepts it, and that is more costly and more regulated. We separate waste streams on site so the clean material does not become expensive waste.
The ground after removal is also a concern. A slab that was on clay may leave a pad that is wet or loose, and deep footings leave holes that must be backfilled in lifts. The USDA describes Bowie County soils like the Texark series as very fine clays with a seasonally high water table, so we plan to compact and drain what we expose. Where a new building follows, we hand off a clean base for slab on grade or concrete foundations.
What drives demolition cost
Thickness and reinforcing are the first drivers. A four-inch unreinforced slab is quick work. A foot-thick mat with two layers of steel is slow and wears equipment. Access is next, because a tight interior needs smaller machines and hand work. Hauling distance, disposal rules and the number of loads all add up.
Unknowns are the last driver. Voids, tanks, buried utilities and contamination can double a task. We scope unknowns carefully, often with a pre-bid walk and a scan, and offer unit prices for items that cannot be seen. Commercial developers and general contractors value a bid that says what will cost extra, not one that is cheap until the first surprise.
Permits and approvals before we break
A demolition permit may be required from the city for structures. The Inspections office at 220 Texas Boulevard in Texarkana, Texas handles that review. On a site near a mapped waterway, the city's floodplain rules apply, and a floodplain permit is reviewed by the City Engineer. On former military land, the owner and the regulating agency decide what can be disturbed.
Utilities need to be located and, where required, disconnected before demolition begins. Texas has a one-call system, and we call before digging. Where a project is publicly funded, bid documents often set rules for waste, recycling and traffic. We follow the documents, and we ask early when they are unclear.
Walk the site with us before bidding
We will look at thickness, reinforcing, access and what lies underneath. Then you get a price that covers breaking, hauling and a clean base.
Common Questions
Can removed concrete be reused on site?
Often, if it is clean and the engineer approves. Crushed concrete is common as a base or backfill. We separate rebar and trash before crushing so the product is usable.
What do you do with rebar and wire mesh?
Steel is separated, cut to size and hauled for recycling. If bars are needed for the project, we can set them aside. Heavy reinforcing slows demolition, so we note it in the bid.
How do you handle a slab that sits over unknown utilities?
We locate first, then cut and break with care near the marked lines. If a line is found that was not marked, we stop and call the owner. It is better to lose an hour than to break a gas or water line.
Do you need a permit to demolish concrete?
Structures often need a permit from the city. Slab and pavement removal may fall under a different permit or be part of a larger site permit. We check with the local building official before mobilizing.
How do you control dust on a busy site?
We use water at the point of impact, wet-cut saws and covered haul trucks. On sensitive sites, we also use barriers and monitor wind. Dust control is part of the plan, not an afterthought.