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Archer Western Constru I-395 Project
Archer Western Construction New I-395 HOV Ramp and A Lane to the City of Alexandria
The VDOT I-395 project is expected to bring improved traffi cars that travel through the area each day. The project team Construction works with the surrounding public to ensure i beneficial to the traffic flow while also meeting neighborho Written by: Lindsey Ryan Produced by: Tom Venturo
uction
n Brings Auxiliary a
fic flow for the 462,000 m from Archer Western it is a project that is ood standards.
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ARCHER WESTERN CONSTRUCTION I-395 PROJECT
I-395 Northbound Widening Work
T
he Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT, has recently begun construction work on northbound I-395 between Duke Street and Seminary Road in the City of Alexandria, Virginia. This $56 million project includes two capacity improvements: an additional $9 million northbound auxiliary lane connecting the northbound on ramp at Duke Street to the northbound off-ramp at 4
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Seminary Road, and a $47 million reversible High Occupancy Vehicle ramp that will provide improved I-395 traffic flow. After reviewing Statements of Qualifications from seven construction teams, VDOT shortlisted the three best teams and then subsequently awarded the project to Archer Western Construction (a subsidiary of the Walsh Group). The Archer Western Design Build bid was not only the low
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price but also the proposal receiving the highest technical score.
VDOT extremely impressed. “What we eventually decided to do as part of our proposal was to Going Beyond Expectations provide all new structural steel for When Archer Western Area Manager the Seminary Road overpass, which for Maryland DC Virginia, Brian not only benefits the structure but Quinlan (assigned as Design Build also solved the problems addressed Project Manager on the VDOT [in regards to the lead and rust]. Plus, project), was pricing the project, he it allowed us to go to a continuous saw that what VDOT was asking span bridge design so we didn’t for was labor intensive and time have as many joints in the bridge consuming. The scope of work that deck, which is good for long term VDOT bid out included replacing maintenance,” explains Quinlan. He the concrete deck and rehabilitating continues, “That’s why we ended up the structural steel beams for the with the highest technical score. We existing Seminary Road overpass, offered more than required by the which would have included removal VDOT Request For Proposals.” of existing lead paint, repairs to As part of the reconstruction of the excessive age related rust damage, Seminary Road overpass, the project replacement of bearings and joints, will also include a dedicated 14 foot and strengthening to accommodate wide pedestrian bridge, which will the new HOV ramp connection. double as a bike path, to replace the Though Quinlan could have bid 4 foot sidewalk that currently exists. according to the original scope, This pedestrian bridge will include he saw the opportunity for Archer decorative fencing and lighting, as Western and its design engineer, well as being ADA compliant. It Parsons Transportation Group, to will be much safer than the existing demonstrate their skills and decided sidewalk that is adjacent to traffic, to propose an extended scope and overall will be much more user including all new steel and a more friendly and aesthetically pleasing. efficient bridge design, which left In addition to providing a unique 5
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I-395 Northbound Wideing Grading Work
and beneficial design for the job, now that the project has commenced, the original completion deadline for the auxiliary lane has been pushed forward by VDOT to accommodate the anticipated traffic capacity increase in the area due to unrelated traffic work further up the road. Andy Palahnuk, Archer Western’s Project Manager (assigned as Construction Manager on the VDOT project) explains, “We have two milestones that we have to meet that 6
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are worth noting. We have roadwork that’s northbound I-395 where we have to widen the outside lanes. We have an interim date of December 31, 2014, to put traffic on that widening. We’re also constructing the HOV Ramp and reconstructing the Seminary Road Overpass that needs to be opened by September 24th, 2015.” Palahnuk, and a majority of the construction team, are just coming off of a successful $70 million project
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that also required accelerated bridge construction techniques, and in fact they completed the project early, so this team has experience working under pressure and has proven that they have what it takes to lead an entire project team through the successful completion of an accelerated project. Because of the schedule demands, Archer Western is working simultaneously from one end of the project to the other in order to beat the milestones
that have been established. In addition to a larger workforce and extended work hours, this has created additional opportunities for DBE subcontractors that are being engaged to supplement the Archer Western workforce. Though the project requires fast paced construction to meet the deadlines VDOT is demanding, safety still comes first. “Safety is very important; we take it as the first responsibility. We have a very w w w. c o m p a n y u r l . c o m
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I-395 Looking South. Working on new HOV Bridge Foundations
“Safety is very important; we take it as the first responsibility. We have a very vigorous safety program that we follow every day. It was tailored for the job site and includes our subcontractors and anyone who works out on the job.” – Andy Palahnuk, Construction Manager
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vigorous safety program that we follow every day. It was tailored for the job site and includes our subcontractors and anyone who works out on the job,” says Palahnuk. Technology The Walsh Group, being one of the largest construction companies in the country, uses modern technology on all of their projects. As an example, one of the interesting devices that VDOT has asked Archer Western to use on the I-395 project is Utility Locator Balls. These are cutting edge technology devices that are dropped into a pipe trench above an underground utility. Once the utility trench is backfilled and surface restoration is complete, the balls have the ability to communicate to a
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I-395 Northbound Widening Retaining Wall Work
computer above ground and send info regarding the underlying utility. This includes how many feet down it is, what utility it is, and what type of pipe it is. All guesswork is removed, thus making future identification of utilities below ground convenient, safe, and reliable.
smooth transition period while the construction work is underway. “Our construction has not had a big impact on traffic because we were able to shift the three existing lanes to establish our work zone, while maintaining traffic on all three. When we do have to take lanes on a short term basis we’re taking them Community Impact and at night in off-peak hours. Because Influence of these efforts, we’re really not Though the construction for the interfering with the peak traffic flows I-395 project will take some time at all,” says Quinlan. and require cooperation and Long term, with the new fourth patience from the surrounding lane of traffic there is naturally community, Archer Western is doing going to be increased traffic everything they can to make it a noise, therefore noise barrier walls w w w. w a l s h g ro u p . c o m
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ARCHER WESTERN CONSTRUCTION I-395 PROJECT
Working on HOV Bridge Foundations in foreground and Existing Seminary Road Bridge in Backround
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were included in the scope of the project. As part of the design effort, Parsons analyzed the projected noise levels and presented possible noise barrier wall configurations in compliance with FHWA specifications. Thereafter, a vote from the community resulted in the approval of noise barrier walls along three fourths of the widening. In the area without noise wall, the adjacent residents selected to go with trees and landscaping as the sound barrier, rather than a wall. VDOT and Archer Western were determined to be good neighbors and to keep the community happy with the project, which will clearly be a part of their lives for years to come. As an example, Quinlan explains, “Andy and his team recently met with residents from the adjacent neighborhood and presented them with the designs for the noise barriers and the landscaping and let them comment on and decide what they liked and didn’t like about the designs. The neighborhoods definitely had a say in the final presentation of the project.” Overall the I-395 project is scheduled to be completed May of 2016 and is expected to provide improved traffic flow and upgraded pedestrian access in the area and Archer Western Construction anticipates that the project will be another successful one for its portfolio.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Construction/ Transportation HEADQUARTERS
Illinois EMPLOYEES
18 Salary and 80 Trades Personnel
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Archer Western Construction I-395 Project 929 West Adams, Chicago, Illinois, 60607 (312) 563-5400 www.walshgroup.com