ASHE Acknowledges Two Gannett Fleming Projects
June 5, 2009
(Mt. Laurel, N.J.) Gannett Fleming was recently honored in the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) North Central and Southern New Jersey Sections 2009 Project of the Year Awards program. The Project of the Year Award competition honors consulting engineering firms, contractors, and transportation officials in their efforts to provide quality roadway facilities in New Jersey. Two noteworthy Gannett Fleming projects received Honorable Mentions in this extremely competitive program.
Safeguarding a Coastal Roadway: The Ocean Drive Scour Project included the design and construction of a new barrier wall along a 1,350-foot portion of the damaged roadway in Cape May County, N.J. The project team utilized an innovative approach by designing a rock wall to protect the road from harmful wave action and choking it with sand, creating a brand new sand dune. The combination of the rock and sand enhanced the structure's strength and created a more visibly appealing landscape.
Gannett Fleming's innovative approach provided several key benefits. Packing the rock wall with sand enhanced the strength of the structure by helping to bind the rocks together, like a mortar, prolonging its service life. It also provided a growing base for the planting of native dune grasses. As these grasses mature, the wall will take on the appearance of a natural sand dune. This new barrier wall along Ocean Drive is capable of withstanding wave action from severe Atlantic Coast storms and provides a stunning view for travelers in Cape May County.
Ocean Drive, Cape May County, N.J.
The Route U.S. 1 & 9: Rahway River Bridge and Sections 1K & 3M Project required improvements to vital infrastructure and the reconstruction of a historic bridge spanning the Rahway River. Using innovative methodologies and techniques, Gannett Fleming improved the roadway and safety conditions of Route U.S. 1 & 9, increased its capacity, and enhanced the overall infrastructure of central New Jersey.
As part of this significant project, Gannett Fleming performed preliminary assessments, site investigations, and remedial investigations; coordinated the disposal of non-hazardous waste; and prepared the associated reports. In addition, Gannett Fleming prepared a soil reuse report for the entire project corridor and property acquisition environmental cost estimate reports for impacted commercial properties.
One of the main goals of this project was to design two new bridges that would retain the historic signatures of the old bridge that spanned the Rahway River. The project team ensured that the important architectural features of the deck on the historic bridge were incorporated into the new designs. The completed structures are bridges that improve traffic flow for motorists while remaining true to the historical elements of the architecture.
Another important goal of this project was to improve the draining of roadway of Route U.S. 1 & 9. The existing roadway had an extremely deficient drainage system and was prone to frequent nuisance flooding. To solve this deficiency, the project team raised the roadway profile for Route U.S. 1 & 9 above the 100-year flood limit and installed two culverts sized for 100-year storm events. To prevent damage to adjacent wetlands, one of these proposed culverts was fitted with a control structure at the upstream end to maintain the depth of inundation in the adjacent wetlands.
Route U.S. 1 & 9 and Rahway River Bridge
For more information, please contact Paul D. Nowicki at (856) 802-9930 or via e-mail.
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