The projects provide a great example of the excellent engineering and surveying work being done by ACEC members firms in Northern California. We look forward to presenting our awards to the winners at our dinner meeting on Wednesday, October 17th, 2018.
The ACEC Sierra Chapter is pleased to announce the winners of our Fourth Annual Engineering Excellence Awards! The awarded project this year are:
Best Civil Engineering Project
San Mateo Bridges Project
Client: Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
Consultant: WSP USA
The San Mateo Bridges Project improved the Caltrain railroad corridor from the Villa Terrace Street crossing to the San Mateo Station, by raising and replacing four grade separation structures in the City of San Mateo. The resulting project provided improved vertical clearance over the streets below and enhanced public safety. The four railroad bridges are at Poplar Avenue, Santa Inez Avenue, Monte Diablo Avenue, and Tilton Avenue. Phase 1 of the project included utility relocations and bridge foundation improvements. Phase 2 of the project replaced the superstructures, while rehabilitating the existing abutments and removing the existing bents. Soldier Pile retaining walls were constructed on both sides of the tracks to retain the higher embankments. The abutment and retaining wall finished surfaces included architectural and aesthetic treatments which upgraded the landscape throughout the project area. The existing 100+ year old structures were replaced in separate weekend closures to prevent extended interruption of commuter train traffic.
The main project constraints involved limited space within right of way for construction activities, the proximity of private and residential properties, and limitations on the durations of track closures for bridge replacements. There are over 94 daily trains on this facility. The replacement utilized accelerated bridge construction (ABC) methods. Through close coordination with Caltrain, the City of San Mateo, adjacent residences, and multiple utility agencies, replacement strategies were identified allowing replacement of the structures over short weekend closures on alternating weekends. The steel bridge superstructures were fabricated off-site and assembled adjacent to the existing structure during street closures. Soldier Pile retaining walls were constructed and tracks were raised prior to the weekend track closures. Existing bridge demolition and bridge replacement occurred over one weekend closure of both tracks at each site. Precast abutment caps were used to facilitate the abutment rehabilitation. The new bridges were rolled into place with a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT).
Best Community Design Project
East 5th Street Improvements Project
Client: City of Lincoln
Consultant: Wood Rodgers
This project was designed to construct new water and sewer mains, roadway reconstruction, alignment improvement and storm drainage conveyance at the intersection of East 5th Street and East Avenue in the City of Lincoln. East 5th Street and its’ associated above and below ground infrastructure had ceased to function as designed. Due to age and impacts from trees, the roadway pavement had failed, water lines were beginning to leak, and sewer lines plugged frequently.
What was originally thought to be a straight forward utility and roadway replacement project on a dead end street quickly became something more than that. The sanitary sewer and water systems were nearly 100 years old and had a history of leaking and the roadway was falling apart. An existing five foot diameter oak tree that was growing in the westbound travel lane was planned to be removed as part of the project in order to facilitate better flow of traffic in a safer manner.
As an innovative solution, Wood Rodgers proposed pipe bursting for this project. Pipe bursting has less surface impacts, requires little excavation, and is a trenchless method; unlike conventional pipe-laying that requires a traditional construction trench. This approach helped to preserve as much as the existing environment with the least amount of disturbance to the project site and the existing oak tree roots.
This project was a unique project in that it wasn’t just a “run-of-the-mill”, typical roadway and utility improvement project. It was a project that dealt with a number of challenges, including:
- Preservation of a majestic oak tree that residents valued a great deal.
- Challenging construction windows, due to varying resident work schedules, the on/off of water to every household, and construction staging for temporary access to homes.
- Very involved residents and community as the street directly impacts their daily experience and way of life.
The team was able to overcome the number of challenges and provided a creative and innovative approach that not only completed the project on time, but also within budget, and up to current standards. It created a roadway that preserved the things that the community valued most, the oak tree, the relationship and trust harnessed with the City, and an inviting roadway leading to their homes.
Best Land Surveying Project
Surveys For Hagan Community Center Pool Replacement Client: LPA Incorporated
Project Owner: Cordova Recreation and Park District
Consultant: Guida Land Surveying
The Hagan Community Center Pool is an important aspect of the Cordova Recreation and Park District’s mission to serve the needs of their diverse and growing community. Guida Surveying, Inc. was proud to be a part of this project with LPA, providing a very detailed topographic survey (using terrestrial laser scanning) to support the design of improvements on a complicated site on a very short schedule. Guida also provided UAV orthophotography and oblique images to support the site design by the civil engineering and architectural team. With an accelerated schedule that took place over both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday, this project is considered by all stakeholders to be a success. The CAD files Guida provided to LPA on such an accelerated schedule, helped them to quickly deliver a project design that integrated well with existing features of the community center surrounding the pools that would be replaced as part of the project.
