ISSUE 69
INSIDE OUT
NEWSLETTER SPRING | 2018
The old bridge over the braided channels of the Yakima River, just off Interstate 82, Exit 52, in Zillah, Washington, was structurally deficient with large shear cracks in the cast-in-place concrete box superstructure and scour critical with the river attacking the spread footingsupported abutments. The new prestressed concrete girder bridge is 620 feet long with four spans over the main channel of the Yakima River.
Changing Course: The North Meyers Road Bridge Project Takes an Interesting Turn during Construction While each bridge that is repaired or replaced has its own set of complexities, when nature changes the conditions of the project, it may mean a whole new set of challenges for a project to deal with. Though the replacement of the crumbling North Meyers Road Bridge over the Yakima River had the usual complications of permitting, design, and budgeting, what was not anticipated was that high river flows would change the course of the river just prior to the start of construction. In 2003, Yakima County hired BergerABAM to design the replacement for the old bridge. Years were spent carefully negotiating and obtaining rights-of-way from landowners and the Yakima Nation. Meanwhile, the design and environmental process were advanced to obtained state and federal permits, along with federal and other funding for the project. Just as the County was completing the final stages of securing right-of-way easements for the project, the Yakima River changed course and caused a 30-foot section of the southern bridge approach to scour way.
It meant that the design had to be reviewed and revised, construction schedules modified, and environmental effects of this change had to go through reconsultation with state and federal agencies and project stakeholders. Utility lines adjacent the bridge would be challenging and expensive to relocate. Even access for evaluation of the river changes was challenging, and a drone was used to examine and assess the new river dynamics. At the same time, to retain federal funding, the in-water work windows for this project could not be revised. (continued on page 2)
To update your contact information, please email newsletter@abam.com EDITORS/CONTRIBUTORS Nora BretaĂąa, Karen Harbaugh, Lauren Hurst, Jana Roy, and Lynn Enebrad DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Ailoan Che, Lauren Hurst, and Jana Roy
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Though the County could have suspended the construction, it chose to go forward so federal funds would not be lost. This meant that some right-of-way easements had to be renegotiated, permits revised, and change orders given to the contractor early in construction. The partnership with construction contractors proved valuable: brainstorming with them revealed a way to minimize the environmental impacts and cost for placing the temporary work platform piles in the river. This was key to getting a quick revision to the permitting. The new prestressed concrete girder bridge is 620 feet long with four spans over the main channel of the Yakima River. It was designed and constructed to accommodate the extensions of future spans on either end of the bridge
During construction of the project, BergerABAM provided design construction support services as the engineer-of-record for the project.
if the river meanders into a new alignment. The interior piers and abutments are constructed on drilled shafts to address the changing alignment of the river channel. The roadway design included driveways, drainage, a bioswale outfall, and utility relocations. The hydraulic design and environmental process were critical to move this project forward as the river passes through tribal lands at this location. The completed bridge opened on 29 November 2017.
Borrego Springs Library Project Expands Horizons and Community Enrichment
Project goals include exceeding criteria for LEED Gold designation and achieving Zero Net Energy performance certification.
Borrego Springs in San Diego County, California, is a small town surrounded by 600,000 acres of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The town’s year-round population of about 3,500 doubles during the winter months with an influx of seasonal residents and visitors. The area is revered worldwide for its magnificent desert wildflowers that bloom from February through April and is recognized as a designated “international dark sky” area, making it a popular destination for astronomers. Because of the town’s strict outdoor lighting ordinances, there are no stop lights in town and other lighting is kept to a minimum to protect the views of the night sky. The Borrego Springs community is bolstered by shops and restaurants, golf courses, and a branch of the San Diego County Library. The Borrego Springs Library currently occupies a 3,787-square-foot leased facility that has been a central gathering place for the community. The County and community (continued on page 3)
Rendering of the new branch library and community park on the corner of Country Club Boulevard and Sunset Road in San Diego. Rendering courtesy of RNT Architects.
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leaders recently determined that the library was in need of expansion and modern upgrades to meet the growing needs of the community. They sought input from residents through a public involvement process, resulting in consensus on a new 13,500-square-foot library, a 1,700-square-foot sheriff’s substation, and a 16-acre community park. The new library will be three times larger than its predecessor and is designed to reflect the surrounding environment and serve as a community hub that provides access to technology, gathering space, and opportunities to engage in civic enrichment activities. The new library will feature a children’s area, a teen space with homework center, a technology center with a computer lab and study room, comfortable lounge seating, a conference area, and a café. The sheriff’s substation will be adjacent to the new library. The new facility will house staff workstations, a secured reception area, a secured intake area with a temporary holding cell, an evidence processing area, general storage area, a weapons safe, and a restroom. The 16-acre community park will be located directly across from the library and will include recreational, sports, meditation, and picnic areas; an amphitheater; an observatory; sport courts; a dog park; shade pavilions and
structures; desert vegetation; water fountains/misters; and trails. The park was designed to implement low impact development standards and sustainable design practices and to be efficient and easy to maintain while withstanding the desert heat, high winds, and blowing dust. The design-build team includes BNBuilders and Roesling Nakamura Terada (RNT) Architects. As a subconsultant to RNT Architects, BergerABAM provided survey and civil engineering services for the library, sheriff’s substation, and community park. The project included design of all site infrastructure; surface parking and hardscape; and associated work for a gravity sewer system, domestic and fire water supply, and off-site improvements, including public improvement plans for site frontages on the main boulevards. BergerABAM also provided stormwater pollution prevention plan documentation, Federal Emergency Management Agency flood control modifications, and bid and construction support services. The project is on track to achieve LEED Gold and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) certifications. ZNE ensures that the energy needed to operate the facility is completely offset by the energy saved through sustainability measures. Groundbreaking commenced in October 2017, and the new facilities are expected to be open to the public later this year.
Juneau Cruise Ship Terminal Concrete Pontoons Win Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Design Award In January 2018, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) announced that the Port of Juneau’s Cruise Ship Terminal concrete floats designed by BergerABAM won PCI’s Special Design Award for All-Precast Option. Entries are judged by independent juries of industry experts who consider creativity and ingenuity in the use of precast concrete to achieve aesthetic expression, function, economy, and sustainability; and recognized excellence in design, engineering, manufacturing, and construction. The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), the capitol of Alaska, has no roads connecting it to the rest of North America because the rugged terrain that surrounds the city makes it accessible by only sea and air. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy of Juneau; it is the most visited city in the state, with 99 percent of the Alaska cruise line vessels stopping at this port city. With over 1 million tourists visiting Juneau, cruise lines were estimated to spend $183 million in goods and services
in 2017. The Juneau Cruise Ship Terminal is of prime importance to the economy of the city because it serves two out of five cruise ships that can be at berth simultaneously at the downtown (continued on page 4)
The project created an aesthetically pleasing and unobtrusive structure.
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harbor. However, the capacity of the old pile-supported timber dock at the Juneau Cruise Ship Terminal was limited to the berthing of one 800-foot-long and one 1,000-foot-long cruise ship. As a result, unlike its sister ports at Ketchikan and Skagway, the terminal was not able to meet the demands of evolving Panamax and postPanamax vessels. CBJ decided to build a low-maintenance replacement dock, which included two floating concrete berths that would enable simultaneous berthing of one 1,000-foot-long and one 1,100-foot-long cruise ship. The overall project was the owner’s design except for the pontoons. Manson was selected as the general contractor, and BergerABAM was chosen in partnership with Concrete Technology Corporation (CTC) for the design-build of two precast concrete pontoons. The south berth pontoon was
300 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet deep; the north berth pontoon was 400 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet deep. Precasting two concrete pontoons of notable size simultaneously at CTC’s precast plant in Tacoma, Washington, was vital in completing the project on time and meeting the needs of the owner by fabricating two efficient, durable, and cost-effective pontoons. The concrete floats accommodate loading and unloading of passengers during large tidal fluctuations, in this case up to 30 feet, without the need for complex operations. Furthermore, concrete floats require minimal maintenance because of corrosion-prevention measures taken during design and construction. These make the concrete floats an attractive option for waterfront structures in Alaska.
Interstate 11, Boulder City Bypass: Constructing a Critical Link between Las Vegas and Phoenix
Project consisted of more than 6 million cubic yards of rock excavation through the Eldorado Mountains.
Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona, are the only two cities in the United States with populations greater than one million that are not currently linked by an interstate highway. To enhance travel and commerce in the region, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) have been working concurrently to build the Nevada portion of the new interstate highway, which will eventually connect the two cities. The proposed new Boulder City bypass, Interstate 11 (I-11), is being built in two major phases from the Las Vegas Valley to the Nevada/Arizona border. The Phase 1 project is being led by NDOT and will construct a 2.5-mile-long, four-lane roadway from Railroad Pass to U.S. 95. Simultaneously, the Phase 2 project, led by RTC, will complete I-11 from
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U.S. 95 to U.S. 93 near the Hoover Dam bypass bridge and will include approximately 12.5 miles of new four-lane interstate freeway with a new interchange at U.S. 95 and a reconfigured interchange at the U.S. 93/State Route 172 Hoover Dam exit. Phase 2 is being constructed under a design-build contract, which includes more than 6 million cubic yards of rock excavation, 10 bridges, over 100 culverts, a wildlife overcrossing, and a scenic overlook more than 1,000 feet above Lake Mead. A portion of the project is being constructed through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area under the jurisdiction of the U.S. National Park Service. Current traffic between the two states averages about 34,000 vehicles per day, and the new interstate will accommodate future travel demand and improve safety and mobility for motorists, while relieving congestion for Boulder City residents. As a subconsultant to Louis Berger, BergerABAM helped provide comprehensive project development and design management services for the Phase 2, $300 million designbuild project. In the earlier stages of the project, services included toll analysis, value engineering, preparation of the public/private partnership model, and presentations to the state legislature. Later stages of the project consisted of preparing the preliminary design (30 percent), request for proposal documents, and performance specifications of the four-lane freeway. After the RTC awarded the construction contract to a design-build contractor, Louis Berger and BergerABAM managed the contractor’s design compliance with the project specifications and NDOT standards.
INSIDE/OUT Newsletter
We are pleased to welcome the following new team members to BergerABAM. Tianna Peterson Federal Way Office Tianna Peterson is the billing specialist for the Accounting Department. She has a wide variety of experience with billing discrepancies, processing accounts payable, and monthly billings.
Ryan McGinnis
Michael Stanek Federal Way Office Michael Stanek is a senior project engineer for the Facilities Department. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Washington State University and has worked on aviation projects along the West Coast.
Kyle Gray Federal Way Office Kyle Gray is an engineer-in-training for the Public Works and Transportation Department. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering, emphasis on structural and environmental engineering, from Washington State University.
Eli Lundberg Federal Way Office
Ryan McGinnis is an engineer-in-training for the Facilities Department. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering with an emphasis on infrastructure and sustainability from Washington State University.
Eli Lundberg is a project engineer for the Waterfront Department. He is a licensed civil engineer specializing in structural engineering and engineering services during construction. He has worked on complex marine, flood protection, navigation, and hydraulic structures.
Hai Dang
Vince Uhde
San Diego Office
San Diego Office
Hai Dang is a project manager for the Facilities Department. He is a licensed professional engineer with over 15 years of experience in the U.S. Coast Guard civil engineering community and is also a certified project management professional.
Vince Uhde is an engineer-in-training with three years of experience in the environmental and geotechnical fields. He earned his bachelor’s in environmental engineering from San Diego State University.
Federal Way Office
Peter Zheng San Diego Office Peter Zheng is an engineer-in-training working primarily on aviation projects. He earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from San Diego State University.
Duffy McColloch Seattle Office Duffy McCulloch is a project engineer for the Public Works and Transportation Department. He has 11 years of experience and earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from Iowa State University.
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