By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Kew Gardens Interchange Design-Build Project Wins 2023 ENR Best Project Highway / Bridge Award

KC is happy to announce that the $365.7M Kew Gardens Interchange Infrastructure and Operational Improvement at Grand Central Parkway design-build project, for which we served as major design subconsultant and Quality Manager on the Halmar International LLC team, was awarded the 2023 ENR Award for Best Project Highway / Bridge. KC was recognized for our efforts as civil engineer on this pursuit, where we provided structural design of three new bridges, retaining walls, overhead sign and ITS structures, and a shared-use path; utility design of water mains, combined sewers, and electrical systems; NYCDEP water regulator replacement and blow-off valve relocation design; Con Edison utility relocation design; development of the existing sewer condition report; temporary and permanent drainage, stormwater, and lighting design; landscape architecture design; and environmental permitting.

We worked closely with the lead contractor and designer to deliver long-term, cost-efficient infrastructure solutions that addressed operational deficiencies within the project limits. Our success is largely due to the contributions of our dedicated staff, who put in hours' worth of hard work to deliver our services to the highest degree of quality.

To learn more about this remarkable achievement and view the project award on ENR’s website, please click on the following link: https://www.enr.com/articles/57558-best-project-highway-bridge-kew-gardens-interchange-infrastructure-and-operational-improvements-at-grand-central-parkway

 

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • 0 Comments

Infrastructure Week, Day 1: Bridges

How do we resolve a problem as widespread as nationally deficient bridge infrastructure?

Year after year, America’s deteriorating infrastructure is so critically neglected that now, in 2020, we face a multi-billion-dollar backlog for the rehabilitation of bridges, a vital facet of the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

While the number of structurally deficient bridges in the United States is down significantly from years past, according to an Infrastructure Report Card provided by the American Society of Civil Engineers, around 188 million trips are taken every day across these deficient bridges. Rehabilitation needs for bridges are backlogged as much as $123 billion, an investment of over half of the funding already provided. These high repair and rehabilitation costs pose a nationwide challenge to state transportation agencies pursuing the construction of reliable infrastructure.

At KC Engineering and Land Surveying, P.C. (KC), structural engineering remains an integral part of our corporation’s contribution to providing safe, sufficient bridge infrastructure.

With projects like Region 8 Ulster County Design-Build Bridge Replacements, Park Avenue Viaduct at 118th Street, Replacement of Route 59 Bridge over MNRR, and Greenkill Avenue Bridge Replacement, KC is continuously able to provide survey services, design assessment, and structural analysis for the replacement and rehabilitation of damaged, deficient, and extremely vital bridge infrastructure in various counties of New York State.

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Washingtonville Culvert and Drainage Improvements Project

The project scope included replacement of the undersized culvert under State Route 94 in Washingtonville, which was located directly east of the Ahern Boulevard and State Route 94 intersection.

KC was responsible for providing architectural and engineering design, bid phase, and construction administration and support services. The scope of work included field and right-of-way (ROW) surveying and base mapping, preparation of highway and bridge design packages, and project management for preparation of contract documents. KC also provided engineering consulting services, working with the Town and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to obtain the required permits.

During the construction phase of the project, KC provided construction inspection services to ensure contract compliance, design intent, quality of workmanship, and material acceptance. KC also prepared as-built drawings.

By Decire Gonzalez KC'S BLOG • • • • • • 0 Comments

The Widening of the Van Wyck Expressway Project

The Van Wyck Expressway (VWE), I-678, is the major gateway into and out of JFK International Airport. It was originally constructed in the early 1950s and is unable to handle current and projected traffic volumes. Congestion and delays are extensive and exist for many hours of the day. This project will widen the VWE by adding a fourth lane (fifth lane at some locations) in both directions to reduce congestion and delays. The added lanes will be operated as Managed Use Lanes that can be dynamically managed.

In addition, operations of the various on/off ramps will be evaluated and elimination and/or relocation will be considered. This project scope included preliminary design services to widen the VWE (I-678) to add a fourth lane from the Kew Gardens Interchange to JFK Airport. The scope also included evaluation of the proposed project on 20 bridges including 4 bridges that carry the Long Island Railroad over the VWE. In addition, operations of the various on/off ramps were evaluated. The length of the project was approximately 4.3 miles.

The bridges and interchanges within the project limits were investigated to determine appropriate work to accommodate the widened VWE. The proper environmental issues were investigated and documented.

KC, as part of the design team, was responsible for the accident analysis, utility relocation, and preliminary design of five structures that are part of the VWE and Belt Parkway Interchange.

By Evan Thomas KC'S BLOG • • 0 Comments

Spuyten Duyvil Bridge Inspection Project

Superstorm Sandy damaged Spuyten Duyvil Bridge’s mechanical and electrical systems with high levels of loads and debris. As a subconsultant to Hardesty & Hanover, KC was part of the structural and mechanical team performing an in-depth inspection of the existing structure, platforms, and fender protection of this mechanical bridge. KC also provided the structural steel details for the repair of the damaged steel members and access platforms.

In addition, KC provided surveying services, including the precise location of 64 tapered rollers with the bridge closed, open, and in several partially opened positions; precise location of the bridge center of pivot with the bridge open, closed, and in several partially opened positions, which required establishing fixed points on the bridge to survey and then measuring and calculating the actual bridge pivot center, or measuring and precisely marking the center pivot of the bridge at the deck level and then surveying that as the bridge rotates; track alignment from abutment to abutment; and general bridge survey information, including key elevations.

This project repaired the bridge into good working condition, allowing trains to run over and boats to successfully navigate around this crucial bridge.