Projects
Hawaii
Emergency Repair (ER) Work due to Hurricane Lane
Location: Hilo, HI
Year Completed: 2020
QRSE was called upon to address varying Engineering and Construction Management requests from HDOT Highways in Hilo, Hawaii (HWY-H), due to Hurricane Lane which brought flooding in August 2018, causing substantial damage throughout Hilo on the Big Island. Based on our familiarity and working knowledge of the FHWA ER program funding and expectations, QRSE prepared Damage Description Inspection Report submissions for HWY-H, which secured over $12 Million in Federal ER funds for this client. An onsite QRSE Construction Manager was also sent to manage two ER structural repair projects: Emergency Repairs at Makea Stream Box Culvert Hawaii Belt Road MP11.15, and Hawaii Belt Road Emergency Slope & Roadway Repairs at Kapue Bridge (Route 19). The slope stabilization at Makea evolved with the geological conditions that became known during early layout and investigation. Our Construction Manager worked closely with the designer and contractor to address continuing slope sloughing and subterranean water flows by adding a French drain on the opposite side of the Route 19 and revising the use of soil nails to hollow bar anchors. Despite the need to re-procure anchors from two CONUS sources, QRSE tracked delivery and accelerated work with approved extended work hours and substantially completed the slope repairs on Feb 28, 2019, but 90% of work had been accomplished by the Feb 21, 2019 deadline. The undermined Kapue concrete piers repair included building an access road under the bridge to avoid closure of Route 19 during concrete placements that would have cut off the nearby community from their only reasonable access to emergency services for several days. This gravel road also served to encapsulate lead paint discovered at the site. The pier repair stream diversion also allowed access to discover a landslide on the opposite stream bank endangering the bridge embankment on that side. QRSE successfully lead the effort to gain USACE Regulatory permission to cross the stream to install erosion control protection and still substantially complete all work on time by Feb 21, 2019. QRSE was then asked to perform after the fact Environmental and Regulatory coordination and submissions which were completed by mid-2020.
KALANIANAOLE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS
B&K – PHASE 2
POALIMA STREET TO VICINITY OF MAKAI PIER, NH-072-1(059)
QRSE was brought in to assist the Bowers and Kubota Construction Management team with implementation of the HDOT e-Construction platform and provide technical expertise for the paving portion of the project. Our support efforts also included a constructability review prior to project work start, and a constructability review of post-construction award design changes. Due to our availability and upon request from the project lead, we also performed reviews and responses for submittals and RFI’s, reviews of contractor change requests and development of independent cost estimates for contractor change proposal price verification. The strong background of our team within the paving industry led to our training the Bowers and Kubota team on inspection of asphalt concrete paving work.
Integrated Teambuilding Training for 102 Hawaii DOT-Highways Division
HDOT – Integrated Teambuilding Training for 102 Hawaii DOT-Highways Division Construction Engineers, Inspectors, Surveyors and Administrative Staff
Kapolei Interchange Complex
HDOT – PHASE 2
CONSTRUCT THE WAKEA STREET OVERPASS, H-1 WESTBOUND OFF-RAMP TO WAKEA STREET, WAKEA STREET WESTBOUND ON-RAMP TO FARRINGTON HIGHWAY
NTP issued 10/14/2015 Project completed 1/2020. Project Cost $64.5M Client: HDOT
Kapolei Interchange Phase 2 is a federally funded project that constructed new on and off ramps, roadway modifications, and elevated bridge/overpass, and connections to Farrington Highway. The scope included concrete paving, pre-cast concrete panels, pre-cast girders, post-tensioned concrete, asphalt paving, and the installation of highway lighting and traffic signals. The project will help to relieve area congestion by providing additional ramps and a new overpass from the Waikea Street Extension to westbound lanes on H-1 Freeway.
Miller Street H-1 Resurfacing
Issued 03/01/2020. Project ongoing.
Client: HDOT
The project scope includes resurfacing, repairing/reconstruction of weakened pavement, upgrading of existing guardrails, pavement parking and signage, freeway lighting upgrades and other site improvements on approximately 3 miles of the H-1 freeway in both directions involving on and off ramps thru the major traffic corridor of Honolulu from Makiki to Moiliili. Work is being done at night with road closures starting from 8:30pm and ending no later than 6 am. Instead of doing this work in one construction contract, the State awarded multiple Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity maintenance contract task orders to accomplish the project and QRSE is managing multiple prime contractors to get the work done.
FARRINGTON HIGHWAY, REPLACEMENT OF MAKAHA BRIDGE NO. 3 AND MAKAHA BRIDGE NO. 3A
Issued 03/01/2020. Project ongoing.
Client: HDOT, Highways
This project involves the replacement of Bridges 3 and 3A along Farrington Highway. The bridges are located within the Makaha Valley, a very environmentally sensitive region, and are adjacent to Makaha Beach. QRSE is performing the Construction Management for the Hawaii DOT, Highways Division. Shortly after award, the project was suspended, redesigned, and has resulted in the elimination of the by-pass road and the use of prefabricated modular truss bridges. The estimated construction cost was reduced from $19M to $16M. The team ensured the approvals of the SWPPP, BMP plans, and required pre-construction submittals along with the initial use of HDOT e-Construction through FACS software. During the suspension, the team has coordinated the reevaluation and approval of the environmental permits and the scope of work for the redesign. In addition, the construction team evaluated and approved engineering costs for the redesign and distributed the 100% design plans. The project restarted construction in October 2021 and is progressing
Illinois
Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) Preservation & Rehabilitation
Location: Kane and DuPage Counties, IL
Year Completed: 2018
Our QRSE designer has led the design of the Pavement & Structural Preservation & Rehabilitation of the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) between IL Route 56 (M.P. 113.3) and Aurora Toll Plaza (M.P. 117.8). This $8M project consisted of patching three lanes in each direction of the existing tollway for 4.5 miles and bridge rehabilitation to extend the service life of the roadway pavement, bridges, and drainage system under phased traffic conditions. Current AASHTO Guidelines and Illinois Tollway criteria were also used to improve safety and update pavement markings, delineators, signage, guardrails, anchors and terminals.
Per the client’s request, the project was designed under an accelerated and expedited schedule, reducing design duration from 18 to 6 months to produce a Concept Plan, Preliminary Plans, Pre-Final Plans, and Final Plans. Design also included detailed inspections and bridge condition reports of four crossing road structures and two dual mainline structures, with life-cycle cost analyses for these structures with repair recommendations, all reviewed and approved by the Tollway authority. The design was also coordinated with utility companies and agencies affected by the project: Illinois Department of Transportation; BNSF Railway; Cities of DeKalb, North Aurora, Village of Sugar Grove, and Aurora; and Counties of Kane and DuPage.
Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) Roadway Resurfacing
Location: Ogle and DeKalb Counties, IL
Year Completed: 2016
Our QRSE designer has led the design of the proposed roadway resurfacing of the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) between IL 251 (M.P. 76.1) and Annie Glidden Road (M.P. 91.4). This $65M, 15 mile project included milling and resurfacing two lanes in each direction of the Tollway with outside shoulder reconstruction, bridge repairs for eight crossing road structures and two dual mainline structures. Other major design elements included: surveying; ramp reconstruction at I-39 and Annie Glidden Road Interchanges; concrete pavement patching at Toll Plaza 66; barrier warrant analysis; soil erosion/sedimentation control measures; lighting design; maintenance of traffic design; and drainage design. The project also implemented the Tollway’s sustainability program (INVEST), which encourages the use of renewable energy and green technology while also adopting best practices to reduce energy consumption. It also incorporated landscape and soil erosion/sedimentation control measures in accordance with the Tollway’s Environmental Studies Manual.
Per the client’s request, the project design was accelerated and expedited, condensing the design phase from 18 to 12 months. Roadway design included Concept Plan, Preliminary Plans, Pre-Final Plans, and Final Plans stages. Milling and resurfacing details were evaluated; patching and overlay of existing deteriorated (rubble) mainline and ramp pavements analyzed; shoulder rehabilitation and underdrain determined; new drainage and modification of existing drainage evaluated and designed; roadway lighting analyzed and updated; barrier warrants analyzed and updated guardrail, anchors, and terminals designed in accordance with current AASHTO Guidelines and Illinois Tollway criteria. Maintenance of Traffic plans for the Tollway, IDOT, and crossroad traffic during construction was also provided.
Also included were detailed inspections and bridge condition reports of eight crossing road structures and two dual mainline structures, with life-cycle cost analyses with repair recommendations, reviewed and approved by the Tollway authority. The plans and specifications included provisions and details for deck patching, deck overlays, substructure formed concrete repairs, and joint replacements. Repairs for the mainline structures were completed under staged traffic conditions while crossroad structures were completed under staged closed conditions.
The design was also coordinated with utility companies and agencies affected by the project: US Army Corps of Engineers; Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water Resources; Illinois Department of Transportation; Cities of DeKalb and Rochelle; and Counties of Ogle and DeKalb.
Elmhurst Road Reconstruction & Interchange Redesign
Location: Des Plaines, IL
Year Completed: 2018
As part of the 15-year, $12B capital improvement program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, the Elmhurst Road Interchange at the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) was identified for conversion from a to-from East direction only to full access interchange. Our designer working for Lochmueller Group at the time, led the design as in a Joint Venture for the Elmhurst Interchange project to include the Elmhurst Road and I-90 service interchange and segments north and south of the interchange along Elmhurst Road. The project extended from the southern terminus on Elmhurst Road south of the Landmeier Road intersection to the northern terminus beyond the Oakton Street and Elmhurst Road intersection (1.09 miles). Most of the project was within the City of Des Plaines, with parts in Elk Grove Village and the Village of Mount Prospect.
The team provided overall management, coordination and quality assurance and quality control with roadway design and structural engineering. Subconsultants performed geotechnical subsurface investigations, drainage and erosion control, lighting, environmental, utility coordination, and traffic signal design. Our designer’s direct efforts with subconsultants reduced costs by eliminating 5 of 40 right-of-way parcels through coordination, redesign, and concept changes.
Elmhurst Road was widened to an urban 6-lane facility from Landmeier Road to Oakton Street. The Elmhurst Road and I-90 interchange improvements reconstructed and replaced the partial-access interchange with a new full-service double crossover diamond (DCD) interchange, formerly known as the diverging diamond interchange—with new dual structures carrying Elmhurst Road over I-90. This allowed for two-phase operation at all signalized intersections within the interchange, a significant improvement in safety, since no left turns must clear opposing traffic and all movements are discrete, most controlled by traffic signals. Based on proposed traffic demand and turning lane configurations, single-lane toll collection facilities were required for new eastbound exit and westbound entrance ramps. Through IDOT direction, intersection improvements at Elmhurst Road and Oakton Street included reconstructing the intersection for dual left turns on all four approaches, adding barrier and mountable-type raised medians, and directional left-turn openings. Phased work stages were incorporated into plans to maintain Elmhurst Road access throughout construction.
The dual structures carrying Elmhurst Road over I-90 were both 305 feet in length with widths of 54 and 65 feet. The bridges are symmetrical 152.5 ft spans with three 14 ft travel lanes, a 5 ft sidewalk and a 10 ft multi-use path, and a superstructure of 67 in depth web plate girders at 9-ft 3 in and 9 ft 7 in beam spacings. The superstructures sit on concrete piers and integral abutments on piles, with Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls approaching 20 feet in height and 270 feet in length.
The design also included a new structure carrying the widened Elmhurst Road over Higgins Creek north of the Elmhurst Road interchange. The current Higgins Creek structure did not meet hydraulic requirements, being only 28 ft in length and subject to overtopping. To maintain the existing profile, the new structure provided for a 50-year high water event with a precast prestressed beam bridge, with a closed abutment and an integral spill-thru abutment, 53 ft 2 long and 113 ft 2 in wide. Maintenance of traffic and creek stabilization were integral to this design.
