Ohio 23 November 18, 2017

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First Year of ODOT’s I-75 Reconstruction Comes to a Close

By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT

Beaver Excavating Company crews began work on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s $113.2 million Interstate 75 Widening and Reconstruction (Hancock County/Through the City of Findlay) project last March and are expected to complete it in May 2020.

The work zone, which spans 5 miles and includes work within the city, covers the area south of Harrison Street/county Road 144 (Hancock County) — just south of the state Route 15/U.S. Route 68 interchange — to the county Road 99 interchange in Findlay (Hancock County).

The purpose of the project is to improve the safety and efficiency of the corridor and increase its capacity, according to the project website.

The project will reconstruct the existing pavement on Interstate 75, add a third travel lane in both the northbound and southbound directions, reconstruct the interchange between U.S. 68/State Route 15 and Interstate 75 (Lima Avenue) and upgrade the roadway to modern highway standards.

Robert White, the Hancock I-75 project engineer of ODOT District 1, said the project is much needed.

“The current aging infrastructure is in need of enhancement,” said White. “Models have shown that with current traffic counts and anticipated expansion to the area’s industry, the current I-75 corridor through Findlay needs additional capacity.”

The project also includes the replacement of the Harrison Street overpass and all of the mainline

Beaver Excavating Company crews began work on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s $113.2 million Interstate 75 Widening and Reconstruction (Hancock County/Through the City of Findlay) project last March and are expected to complete it in May 2020.

bridges on I-75, and the construction of noise walls along the interstate at the following locations: Carlin Road north of county Road 313 and south of Harrison Street/county Road 144 on the east side of the interstate; Broad Avenue between U.S. 224/Trenton Avenue and Bigelow Avenue/county Road 96 on the east and west side of the interstate; and Crosshill Drive from north of Bigelow Avenue/county Road 96 to just north of Hillshafer Drive on the east side of the interstate.

ODOT has long valued the ben-

efits of roundabouts to help improve the flow of traffic.

“A unique element to the project is the construction of modified roundabouts at the Lima Avenue interchange,” said White. “With a look unlike traditional roundabouts, the dog bone-shaped configuration will be round on both ends and provide a direct connection between Interstate 75 and Lima Avenue, will connect U.S. 68/state Route 15 to Lima Avenue and will provide for through movement for traffic on Lima Avenue.

The interchange will also feature a

multi-use path.”

With the Findlay airport nearby and with I-75 traversing the Norfolk Southern railroad, special coordination efforts have been required with both entities throughout the planning and construction of the project.

“The Lima Avenue interchange is within the airport’s runway protection area, which requires the contractor to coordinate their use of equipment with the airport,” said White. “Close communication with the railroad is needed as the project crosses over the railroad at

three locations and a culvert beneath the railroad is being installed via jack and bore method.”

Additional special construction elements of the project include the relocation of a Marathon pipeline adjacent to I-75 and considerations for flood mitigation given the Findlay area’s propensity to flood.

The new bridge over the Blanchard River, the main historic contributor to the area’s flooding, was designed wider to restrict water beneath the bridge less than its see ODOT page 2

Page 2 • November 18, 2017 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

$113M Project Addresses Short Entrance, Exit Ramps ODOT from page 1

predecessor. In addition, rather than filling in an area beneath an abandoned railroad bridge, a Quonset-style steel arch was installed instead to keep water flowing through the area during times of heavy rain.

The DOT has made serious investments in the area, including a $135.7 million project on Interstate 75 through Lima and Allen County from the Auglaize County line to just north of state Route 81, which was completed in the fall of 2016.

Funding for the current project is based on state and federal contributions.

This section of Interstate 75, which was originally constructed in the 1950s, last saw major work in 1989. The section is used by more than 52,000 cars and trucks daily and will be able to support 60,000 vehicles per day, the projected I-75 traffic by 2036.

Parsons Brinckerhoff, now doing business as WSP, designed the new infrastructure.

In addition to the replacement of aging pavement and the enhancement of traffic flow, safety concerns have been addressed in the interstate’s reconstruction.

“This project addresses short entrance and exit ramp merges with I-75, reduces congestion and optimizes roadway geometry,” White said.

Chris Hughes, the capital programs administrator of ODOT District 1, added, “Replacing the loop ramp at the interchange of I-75 and U.S. 68/state Route 15 will increase safety and traffic flow. The new flyover ramp will allow traffic to move safely through the interchange at a higher speed and make for smoother flow.”

Despite the project’s magnitude, I-75 has remained open throughout its duration, with two lanes in each direction open a majority of time. Single lane restrictions occur as need during nighttime hours. Entrance and

The concrete deck was poured on Oct. 20.

The purpose of the project is to improve the safety and efficiency of the corridor and increase its capacity.

exit ramps along I-75 have been closed temporarily, though never concurrently.

“When we have closed ramps on I-75, we have done so one set at a time,” Hughes said.

“The only long-term closure in place right now is from I-75 northbound to U.S. 68/state Route 15. It’s closed for three years while we restructure the interchange, but it’s also the ramp at the interchange with the least amount of traffic activity.”

Three surface streets in the city of Findlay have been affected: River Road and Howard Street, which run beneath I-75 and are closed intermittently as needed for operations on I75, and Harrison Street, which closed for the replacement of its bridge over I-75 and is set to reopen this winter.

Closures and restrictions have been reduced due to a contraflow lane pattern on the mainline lanes, traffic shifts and a phased approach to construction. Those phases have the chance to become fewer in number.

“A value engineering change proposal [VECP] has been submitted to reduce the number of construction phase lines required,” said White.

Worker and motorist safety has been a focus for both ODOT and its contractor on the Hancock I-75 project. For the first time on a significant interstate project, ODOT District 1 has employed variable speed limits. Electronic message boards display a reduced speed when workers are present and return to normal when work is not taking

place.

“Motorists tend to view work zone speeds on the electronic boards as more credible than static signs,” said White. “It seems there’s greater adherence to the lower speed and more regard for us and our safety.”

The project also utilizes an electronic warning system to inform motorists when traffic ahead is slowed. Devices mounted within the work zone detect slowed traffic and display on a connected message board the current speed of traffic ahead.

“Rear-end accidents are the most common type of accident within a work zone,” said White. “This system is an extra layer of communication to motorists to help them see ODOT page 7

Ben Geletka, Beaver Excavating’s project manager, is very aware of the challenges of working in an urban setting and his experienced staff and crews are putting in a solid effort.

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 18, 2017 • Page 3

Page 4 • November 18, 2017 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Arcadis to Design Waste-to-Energy Improvements for Plant Arcadis, a global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets, announced its selection by Columbus, Ohio, to design energy efficiency and biogas recycling improvements at the city’s Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The improved plant will recycle biogas to generate electricity, representing a significant step for the city in becoming a more sustainable, green community.

As prime consultant under an approximate $1 million contract, Arcadis will design a combined heat and power (CHP) engine capable of burning biogas that will power a generator to produce electricity and heat for the plant.

Methane-rich biogas is produced by the plant’s anaerobic digesters. Rather than flare the excess biogas, the city aims

to recycle it for power. Arcadis will manage the CHP engine procurement, pair it with a gas cleaning system for producing high quality fuel and integrate the new CHP system into the plant’s existing electrical and heating system. The new system will also be scalable to accommodate city growth.

“Using biogas to fuel the engines is significantly more efficient and environmentally friendly than using coal power or natural gas, and it will strengthen our city’s sustainability going forward,” said Todd Krenelka, Columbus Department of Public Utilities. “The city has a strong interest in fully using our resources, and this project meets multiple objectives within Columbus’ Green Memos.”

“We applaud Columbus for embarking on a multi-year

L EEB O Y 8 5 2 0 A SP H A LT PA V E R

initiative to promote sustainability within the city and to contribute to solutions for ongoing global environmental issues,” said Arcadis Water President John McCarthy.

“Arcadis looks forward to building a more efficient and sustainable power system to help the city meet its climate change, energy, built environment and community engagement objectives.”

The design phase of the project will run through October 2019 with construction scheduled to take place in spring 2020.

Arcadis has designed, managed construction and overseen the startup of a variety of CHP systems, including one of the first facilities to achieve energy net neutrality in the country — the Gloversville-Johnstown Joint Wastewater Treatment Facility in New York. Similarly, Arcadis was responsible for the design and construction management of the Cedar Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Long Island, N.Y., which after 30 years, is still reliably and efficiently generating steam and electricity to power the plant.

(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)

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State, federal, and local leaders officially cut the ribbon on the Bagdad Road bridge over the Rocky River. It is the 200th bridge completed under a program between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local government partners.

The Ohio Bridge Partnership Program was created in 2013 to allow local governments to apply for state and federal funding to address bridges in need of major repairs or replacement. The program, created in partnership with the County Engineers Association of Ohio, is investing $130 million into 224 bridges around Ohio.

Bridges were identified using the following criteria: • Must meet the federal bridge definition of being more than 20 ft. long • Must be “structurally deficient” — an engineering term given to bridges having maintenance issues that, while safe, still require repair • Currently open and carrying traffic Ohio has more than 43,000 bridges, second only to Texas in the United States. Despite a federal mandate to inspect bridges once every two years, all of Ohio’s bridges receive annual inspections.

“Whether they are traveling on an interstates, U.S. routes, state routes, county or township roads motorists expect the bridges they cross to be safe,” said ODOT Director Jerry Wray. “This program helps address the needs of our local government partners by leveraging the resources of the state and federal government.”

Without these funds, many of these bridges may not have been repaired or replaced for several more years.

The new Bagdad Road bridge is wider and built to handle more traffic. The project cost $752,000 to complete.

(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 18, 2017 • Page 5

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Page 6 • November 18, 2017 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Mosser Construction Inc. Wins 2017 Build Ohio Award Mosser Construction Inc. announced that it was one of the winners of the prestigious AGC of Ohio 2017 Build Ohio Awards.

Mosser was honored in the Renovation category for the University Hall renovation project at Bowling Green State University.

Mosser received its bronze and marble Build Ohio award during the 26th annual Build Ohio celebration on Nov. 3, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton.

The Associated General Contractors of Ohio hosts Build Ohio annually to celebrate the commercial construction industry and recognize contractors for excellence in construction. Build Ohio winners are selected by a panel of retired construction professionals on the following criteria: excellence in customer service, meeting the challenge of a difficult job, excellence in project management, and innovations in construction techniques and materials.

University Hall was the first building to open on Bowling

Mosser Construction Inc. announced that it was one of the winners of the prestigious AGC of Ohio 2017 Build Ohio Awards.

Green State University’s campus in 1915. Housing the President’s office, all administrative functions, classrooms, a theater over a gymnasium and more, the iconic building endured extensive use as well as eight substantial renovation projects over the next century.

Mosser Construction was selected to improve on University Hall’s original splendor and transform it into a key recruiting tool for today’s admissions efforts.

Surprises greeted Mosser behind and within every wall.

Archways and doorways were cre-

ated, requiring methodical demolition to preserve the original 100year old bricks, which Mosser reused to infill existing openings that were no longer needed. The original two-story theater and gymnasium was demolished and the area now features four floors and hous-

es the largest single-elevation classroom on campus. The grand marble stairway in the main entryway was refurbished and the space transformed into a more open, welcoming area which features oldworld plastering and finishing techniques to enhance the existing iconic essence of the building.

“It is always an honor to receive an award, especially one that is voted on by your peers. I want to thank BGSU, all of our employees and the contractors who worked with us on this project that made it such a success,” said Charles Moyer, president and CEO of Mosser Construction Inc. Building with integrity since 1948, Mosser Construction Inc. is one of Ohio’s premier construction companies, specializing in commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, water treatment plants and highway and bridge construction, according to the company.

(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)

Ohio Sues Gas Pipeline Developer Over Pollution Violations

By John Seewer

Ohio’s environmental regulators and landowners have said that soon after construction began in March, there were problems with crews spilling drilling mud into wetlands, ponds and streams and pumping Ohio is suing the company building a storm water into streams and fields. $4.2 billion natural gas pipeline from West The state EPA in September said the Virginia to Michigan over what it says are amount of fines against Rover had risen to numerous water pollution violations dur$2.3 million. ing construction.

Energy Transfer Partners responded by The lawsuit filed said work on the saying it will continue to work with the Rover Pipeline flooded a protected wetFederal Energy Regulatory Commission to land with drilling mud and has damaged meet its requirements. the environment in more than 10 of the 18 The state’s lawsuit filed by Attorney Ohio counties where the pipeline is being General Mike DeWine seeks to force the built. company to pay civil penalties of $10,000 It also said that Rover Pipeline LLC had per day for each violation. violated state laws, rules and permits The developer, the Ohio EPA said, has designed to protect water quality. complied with orders to begin plans to The twin pipelines are being built across clean up and restore wetlands that were Ohio to carry natural gas from coated with drilling mud, remove mud Appalachian shale fields to Canada and contaminated with diesel fuel from two states in the Midwest and the South. Much of the 700-mi. pipeline is being built across www.roverpipelinefacts.com photo quarries and monitor water wells near those sites.

Ohio and will extend into Michigan, The Rover Pipeline route spans approximately 713-mi.

But the agency said the company has Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, which also was the past six months to resolve this matter in a way that is sat- refused the state’s directive to obtain storm water pollution permits. behind the Dakota Access oil pipeline, is the developer back- isfactory to all parties involved.”

The head of Ohio’s EPA, though, has said several times (This story also can be found on Construction ing the Rover project. The company said in a statement it was disappointed the state decided to sue and that it tried that the company has been difficult to deal with and unwill- Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.) work with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency “for ing to negotiate a settlement.

AP WRITER

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 18, 2017 • Page 7

Beaver Excavation to Finish Reconstruction in May 2020 know what’s ahead.”

ODOT is using a variety of resources to keep motorists informed about road closures and construction updates, including social media sites, video updates, the OHGO app and OHGO.com.

Thus far, Beaver Excavating has been doing a lot of dirt work on the flyover ramp from I-75 southbound to U.S. 68, which will wrap up in the spring. The first phase of the Blanchard River bridge is under construction, with the deck poured in early November. Traffic will be diverted onto the new bridge in December.

The Harrison Street bridge is almost complete with the deck having been poured and approach slabs installed in early November and sidewalks will be installed in the coming months. The paving and intermediate base has been placed on the northern half of the project, with traffic to be shifted in December, and a lot of drainage work has been done, including jacked and bored culverts, box culverts, under drains, storm sewers and other related items. A CCTV system has also been installed.

The construction of a service road off Lima Avenue connecting to Lake Cascades north of the U.S. 68/SR 15 interchange is under way and nearing completion — it still needs a bit of asphalt, with a final tie-in to Lima to be built in 2020. The noise wall construction began in October, starting from the south end and should be completed in July 2018.

The Harrison Street over Interstate bridge, which is being reconstructed, was closed last May and should be open to traffic in early 2018. The concrete deck was poured on Oct. 20.

The goals for the 2017 to 2018 construction season are opening Harrison Street, shifting traffic onto new pavement and setting beams on the flyover ramp bridges.

“The other big goal will be the Blanchard bridge,” said White, “which needs to be open before winter so that we can make our next traffic shift. Vehicles are currently running on old pavement and we need to shift them onto new pavement so that we can continue ripping out the rest of the southbound lanes.”

Ben Geletka, Beaver Excavating’s project manager, is very aware of the challenges of working in an urban setting and his experienced staff and crews are putting in a solid effort.

“For the most part,” said White, “everything has gone pretty well. Weather can always be a challenge — right now the

biggest thing we’re fighting is the cold, which is slowing us down and there is a last big push taking place. Another challenge has been the phasing. There is a lot of it because we have to maintain two lanes of traffic in both directions. There’s a lot of phase lines and bridges in the roadway itself. But it’s doable. It’s been smooth sailing — we have good plans to work off of.”

Right now 80 percent of the work is done by day shifts, but at the beginning of the project, it was 50/50 day and night shifts with bridge beam settings taking place along I-75.

There are about 50-plus workers on site daily, with the major subcontractors being Shelly & Sands and the Shelly Company, along with smaller and local subcontractors.

Preliminary figures for the project have about 400,000 cu. yds. of materials being excavated and removed, and about one million cu. yds. of embankment being brought in.

Coordination is crucial on a large project like this.

“It’s huge,” said White. “We all work together daily. Between us, Beaver and the subcontractors, we’re all on the same team — nothing gets done without one talking to the other. We partner with the general contractors to accomplish the goals and work through any problems. There haven’t been any show stoppers to slow us down. For a lot of the work, we knew what we were getting into and it’s pretty much held true.”

ODOT and Beaver Excavation share a building, which ensures problems are rapidly solved. Beaver Excavation has plenty of room for lay down and carpenter yards, materials storage, equipment storage and onsite repair facilities. The company purchased a property adjacent to the work site to support its efforts.

White praised the efforts of Geletka and his crews.

“They’ve definitely put forth an impressive amount of equipment and manpower,” he said. “We like to emphasize the partnering effort between the two of us, which means we’ll come together to work out anything that we need to. They are working long hours, even now with the weather changing.”

Work will continue throughout the winter as much as possible, particularly on the structures and bridges.

(This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)

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Page 8 • November 18, 2017 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide