TYLin News + Views Issue Three 2023 by TYLin

News + Views

IN THIS ISSUE: ADVANCING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

ISSUE THREE 2023

WELCOME TO News + Views!

News + Views is the official newsletter of TYLin Group. TYLin is a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm committed to providing innovative, cost-effective, constructible designs for the global infrastructure market. With 3,000+ employees working in 60+ offices throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, we provide support on projects of varying size and complexity.

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4 FEATURE ARTICLE 1

Contents

4 WINS

8 MILESTONES

NEWS

Advancing Critical Infrastructure

TYLin, in partnership with Hatch, has been selected to provide detailed design services and construction phase services for the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge — a new signature bridge linking the municipalities of Senneville and Vaudreuil-Dorion in Québec, Canada. Construction for the Design-Build-Finance bridge replacement project commenced in the summer of 2023, with the bridge slated to open to traffic by 2026. The project construction value is estimated at CAD 2.3 billion.

FEATURE

Aerial rendering of the new bridge set to begin construction this year.

The Consortium named “Groupe Nouveau Pont Île-auxTourtes Inc.,” consisting of Dragados Canada, Inc., Roxboro Excavation Inc., and Construction Demathieu & Bard (CDB) Inc., was awarded the contract to build the new bridge.

According to TYLin Bridge Sector Leader Marwan Nader, PhD, PE, P.Eng., this project represents critical infrastructure in Québec and underscores TYLin’s presence as a premier structural engineer in the region. “We’re thrilled to serve as Lead Bridge Engineer and proud to help bring this project to life,” he says.

TYLin will work closely with subconsultant partners Fugro for geotechnical investigations, Tourney Consulting Group (TCG) for durability studies, and Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory (BLWTL) for wind studies.

The existing Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge is one of the principal transportation points of entry into the island of Montréal from the province of Ontario and the Outaouais region. Initially commissioned in 1965, the bridge has undergone several major repairs over the years to reduce the deterioration of its structural components. After the analysis of various options, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec (MTMD) recommended the reconstruction of the crossing.

The project includes multiple elements: the construction of two new bridges (one in each travel direction, East and West) to the north of the existing bridge, the deconstruction of the existing bridge, and the construction of the Breslay footbridge north of the existing Thomas Island Bridge.

The existing bridge consists of 41 spans on a curved alignment, with a total length of 2 kilometres. The new bridge will comprise 24 spans, with two separate, 2-kilometre-long composite decks on steel girder bridges, one in each travel direction. Each bridge deck will carry three lanes of traffic, as well as a shoulder adapted for public transport buses. The design of the West bridge deck includes a 4-metre-wide multiuse path and two belvederes offering scenic views.

The visual quality of the new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge is characterized by architectural sails attached to the bridge piers adjacent to the navigation channel and at each of the two bridge approaches.

Adds Nader, “This project marks another major bridge project that TYLin has led in Québec. The new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge will not only significantly improve transportation for residents and businesses, but it will also serve as a landmark structure for this special Canadian province.”

Bird’s-eye view of the Seuil De Senneville. View of the main span.

TYLIN’S PROJECTS IN QUÉBEC INCLUDE:

The Samuel De Champlain Bridge: TYLin, in a joint venture with IBC and SNC-Lavalin, is the Managing Partner and Lead Designer for the new signature cablestayed bridge that serves as the gateway to Montréal. The bridge replacement project represents one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America.

Deconstruction of the Old Champlain Bridge: We were selected for the deconstruction of the original circa 1960 Champlain Bridge in Montréal. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the demolition requires strict adherence to environmental requirements to minimize impacts on the public and the environment.

The Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM): TYLin is the Engineer of Record for the design of a light-rail conversion of the central corridor on the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge. The conversion involves rail-structure interaction analysis, rail expansion joint design and deck modification, track plinth design, and the design of the guard railing and stray current collection system.

Pedestrian perspective on the center section of the multiuse path above the navigation channel.

AEC: Augmenting the Buildings Sector

AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, USA

TYLin recently announced the acquisition of Architectural Engineers Collaborative (AEC), a Texas-based company with 35 employees operating in offices in Austin and San Antonio. Established in 1998, AEC joins the TYLin Buildings Sector and will do business as Architectural Engineers Collaborative, A TYLin Company.

The firm’s leadership team includes Chuck Naeve, PE, Founding Principal; Josh Bedre, PE, Principal; Richard Liu, PE, Principal; Karina Tribble, PE, LEED AP, Principal; and Tom Calderwood, PE, Associate Principal. As part of TYLin Group, the team will report directly to Nat Oppenheimer, PE, LEED AP, Leader of TYLin’s Buildings Sector and Silman, a TYLin Company.

“The TYLin Buildings Sector is thrilled to welcome the Architectural Engineers Collaborative team to our family of structural engineers,” says Oppenheimer. “Not only has Chuck Naeve built a passionate and talented firm, but he has, over the years, hired a number of former Silman employees, which makes the bond to the Buildings Sector stronger than most acquisitions and allows almost instantaneous collaboration within the sector.”

Adding Transportation Facility Expertise

In addition to expanding the Buildings Sector capabilities in the South-Central region, this change enhances the sector’s experience with transportation facilities, such as transit stations and pedestrian bridges . Airport terminals are another noteworthy example.

One of AEC’s key clients is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), where the firm has worked on projects dating back to the original Barbara Jordan Terminal in 1999. Austin’s population has quadrupled since then, with few signs of slowing down. According to recent census data estimates, the city is now the 10th largest in the United States.

Chuck Naeve, PE, Founding Principal Josh Bedre, PE, Principal Richard Liu, PE, Principal Karina Tribble, PE, LEED AP, Principal

FEATURE

Tom Calderwood, PE, Associate Principal

The AUS East Terminal Infill project. (Image Credit: Joel

Blok)

“Keeping up with the area’s explosive growth has posed a challenge for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport,,” says Naeve. “While a recent master plan projected that the airport would reach about 30 million annual travelers by 2037, the current trajectory puts the facility on track to meet that milestone as early as 2025.”

AEC has helped the airport meet increased capacity demands by providing structural engineering services for projects such as the East Terminal Infill and East Concourse Expansion. The new oval-shaped East Terminal Infill building, completed in 2015, seamlessly links with the existing one and provides increased capacity for passenger processing. The main hall of the new building is an expansive space with an exposed twoway roof structure.

An ongoing West Terminal expansion will add three new gates, a passenger lounge, office space for airport employees, and an outdoor patio. Interior space for passengers will total around 30,000 square feet. Construction is scheduled to start this year and conclude by 2026.

Enhancing Important Austin Buildings

AEC has also provided services for many of Austin’s wellknown public buildings. One example is the city’s Long Center for the Performing Arts on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. The project adapted a 1950s-era auditorium, using sustainable design to create a new facility with a 2,400-seat symphony hall and a grand front porch where concerts are often performed outdoors for the community.

Current mixed-use projects include Music Lane, a major development in Austin’s emerging “Southtown” district. The multifaceted project includes office, restaurant, retail, and hospitality spaces, all within a walkable ground plane of choreographed landscape and outdoor seating.

Adds

Oppenheimer, “Architectural Engineers

Collaborative brings a team of creative and smart structural engineers to the team, with a strong portfolio specific to landmark buildings, the aviation market, and the Texas geographic market in general. Their senior staff also has significant Texas Department of Transportation and bridge design experience. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and collaborate with them!”

Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. (Image Credit: Jerry Hayes)

The original AUS Barbara Jordan Terminal. The AUS East Concourse Expansion project. Music Lane Mixed-Use Development in Austin, Texas.

I-10 Mobile River Bayway

MOBILE, ALABAMA, USA

TYLin is the Lead Designer in a progressive design-build (PDB) contract to develop, design, and construct a replacement of two 2-lane bridges across Mobile Bay, with two 3-lane bridges over a 10-mile segment of highway between Mobile and Spanish Fort, Alabama. The project addresses congestion issues by increasing the capacity of I-10, providing a direct interstate route while minimizing the impact on marine traffic. The redesigned roadway and bridges will improve geometrics and access to the Mobile area and facilitate economic growth.

The PDB team, Mobile Bayway Constructors, is utilizing an innovative top-down construction technique that minimizes project impact on the environmentally sensitive wetland project site. Top-down construction is accomplished using a three heading, self-contained gantry system operation that performs pile driving, precast cap and girders setting, and concrete pouring of the deck from above versus traditional surface construction.

This technique not only protects the environment but will also deliver the project faster and more cost-

effectively while meeting the Alabama Department of Transportation’s strict quality requirements. The technique eliminates the need for costly temporary works, dredging, and on-water marine support. Keeping construction operations off the water makes the project less invasive and minimizes impacts on aquatic resources, including sub-aquatic vegetation, wetlands, and endangered species.

The approximately USD 1 billion project was awarded in June. Preliminary design is underway, with an estimated opening date of the facility in 2028.

WINS

MOBILE BAYWAY CONSTRUCTORS’ PATENTED GANTRY SYSTEM IN USE ON A PREVIOUS PROJECT. To minimize environmental impacts, pile driving will be done without the use of barges.

King County Permit Plan Review

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, USA

TYLin was selected by King County Metro in King County, Washington, to support Battery Electric Bus base plan review and permitting, focusing on South Annex and Interim Bases. These sustainable transportation projects are critical to advancing Metro’s fleet electrification and emission reduction goals.

New CTA 120th Street Train Yard and Shop

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA

TYLin will provide full design and engineering support during construction for a new train yard and shop at 120th Street in Chicago. The project is part of the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension (RLE) program.

TYLin has been supporting the CTA and the RLE program since 2020, providing preliminary engineering services and delivering the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. The overall program includes a 5.6-mile extension of the CTA’s Red Line, four new passenger stations, a bus layover, and parking structures.

The 120th Yard and Shop will be the first yard and shop constructed by the CTA in more than 30 years. The approximately 45-acre site contains 17 yard tracks, with the capacity for adding six yard tracks in the future. The yard’s initial capacity can store close to 264 cars, with a future capability of an additional 56 cars. The yard also includes a vehicle maintenance test track.

The new shop facility will measure more than 155,000 square feet and contain a minimum of six maintenance tracks for wheel truing, routine and annual maintenance inspections and repairs, internal car cleaning, and car washing activities. In addition to the maintenance tracks, the shop facility will contain staff offices, training and break rooms, material handling facilities, and parts storage and distribution areas.

The yard and shop will also have two traction power substations — one dedicated to the yard and the other to the shop, and a radio tower for corridor-wide communications. The estimated all-in construction cost is between USD 350 million and 400 million.

King County battery electric bus. (Image Credit: KingCounty.gov) An existing CTA Red Line train yard. (Image Credit: Chocoholic/Alamy)

Enhancing Safety and Accessibility in Fort Kent, Maine

FORT KENT, MAINE, USA

In a Planning Partnership Initiative with the Maine Department of Transportation, the Town of Fort Kent, Maine, has chosen TYLin to complete a feasibility study to identify safety, accessibility, and mobility improvements on and adjacent to Main Street/US Highway Route 1/State Route 161.

Like our recent win to revitalize Presque Isle’s Main Street , this project is another opportunity for TYLin to bring our services to the far reaches of the state. We offer these small rural communities both our local knowledge and access to our national expertise — ultimately making them better positioned to leverage discretionary Federal funds to implement our recommended solutions.

The Fort Kent study will identify business-friendly transportation improvements to reduce congestion, improve pedestrian and traffic safety, balance longrange land use planning goals, and align with the town’s economic objectives. The TYLin team will suggest practical and cost-effective alternatives focusing on active transportation, in-fill development, and mixeduse land use. All options will complement the historic character of the village center and promote increased connectivity between existing walking paths and multiuse trails.

Led by Project Manager Tom Errico, PE, our team will:

Identify safety and mobility improvements for all existing and reasonably foreseeable future transportation system users within the study area. Assess traffic calming along key streets and consider gateway signage options.

Evaluate expanded pedestrian connectivity north of the downtown area.

Identify bicycle and pedestrian deficiencies and recommend improvements.

Assess necessary drainage and utility improvements.

The Village of Fort Kent is Maine’s northernmost town and the northern terminus of historic US Highway Route 1, which originates in Key West, Florida. The town hosts annual landmark events, including the International Muskie Derby and the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races. A crucial aspect of our efforts will be to develop reasonable modifications that improve accessibility and enrich the atmosphere of these events for both spectators and competitors.

THE VILLAGE OF FORT KENT PLANS TO IMPROVE MOBILITY AND SAFETY WHILE RETAINING ITS HISTORIC CHARM. (PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWN OF FORT KENT, MAINE, WEBSITE)

Revamping Route 1 in Kittery, Maine

KITTERY, MAINE, USA

The Town of Kittery, Maine, in a Planning Partnership Initiative (PPI) with the Maine Department of Transportation and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission, has selected the TYLin team to perform the Route 1 Corridor Feasibility Study. Key players include longtime collaborators Rasor and Wright-Pierce.

The goal is to reimagine Route 1, a corridor currently suffering from high traffic volumes, congested intersections, and heavy pedestrian demand. Our mission will be to reshape the current “car-centric” narrative into a dynamic corridor that prioritizes safety, aesthetics, and accessibility for all modes of transportation.

The team will unveil a plan for the thoughtful repurposing of the roadway cross-section that will encourage shoppers to park and stroll from store to store. To cater to residents’ needs, we propose adding dedicated bicycle lanes, ensuring a secure and enjoyable biking experience along Route 1.

Our strategy includes integrating streetscape enhancements to calm traffic and enhance the area’s visual charm.

TYLin’s proposal details a clear project understanding, enhanced by the personal knowledge and experiences of our Project Manager, Tom Errico, PE, a 30-year area resident.

With an impressive track record on PPI projects, TYLin’s team has the expertise to meticulously evaluate various alternatives and provide comprehensive data that will affirm the project’s feasibility. Through prior experience, we also understand the significance of crafting a Purpose and Need Statement, which will guide study recommendations and future implementation.

The team is excited to collaborate with the Kittery community and pave the way for a revamped Route 1 that genuinely reflects the community’s aspirations and values.

TYLin will encourage the Town of Kittery to add designated bike lanes or a protected side path to Route 1. (Photo Credit: Connel/Shutterstock.com)

Advancing the District of Columbia’s Clean Rivers Program

WASHINGTON, DC, USA

Greeley and Hansen, A TYLin Company, has been awarded a contract with the District of Columbia’s Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) for another term to complete the award-winning Clean Rivers Project. The Clean Rivers Project is DC Water’s ongoing program to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the District’s waterways – the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek. Since 2009, Greeley and Hansen has served as Program Managers for the USD 3 billion program designed to capture and clean combined sewage, a mixture of wastewater and stormwater runoff, during rainfalls before it reaches the District’s rivers.

This massive infrastructure program includes 18 miles of 18-foot- and 23-foot-diameter storage/ conveyance tunnels, drop shafts, two pumping stations, large hydraulic structures, and diversion structures and sewers constructed in a complex urban environment. The program has achieved more than 65 consent decree milestones required to date and placed into operation approximately USD 2 billion of constructed facilities.

Proven critical to success are proactive regulatory assistance, the use of alternate

project delivery methods for implementing capital projects, and effective outreach to keep the community informed and engaged. To date, the program has captured over 15 billion gallons of CSO and 9,600 tons of trash and debris, achieving a 92% reduction on the Anacostia River.

Recognized throughout the water sector with numerous prestigious awards, this project is the 25-year implementation of the Long-Term Control Plan for DC Water to meet the Federal Consent Decree by 2030. In addition to CSO control, portions of the project provide flood mitigation to areas that have endured chronic flooding since the late 1800s. Targeted green infrastructure is also being constructed in selected sewersheds to provide triple bottom-line benefits to residents.

The final term of the program includes the construction of the Potomac Tunnel, a more than 5.5-mile-long, 18-foot-diameter facility that will be built using two tunnel boring machines in both rock and soft ground. The tunnel will be constructed in the National Mall area adjacent to many significant monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial. When complete, the program will provide a 96% reduction in CSOs system-wide in an average year, significantly improving water quality and enabling recreational uses in the nation’s capital.

The tunnel boring machine INSIDE ONE OF THE DROP SHAFTS IN THE MASSIVE PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA’S WATERWAYS.

Now Serving American Water in Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, USA

The Water Sector has secured two new contracts for strategic growth into Missouri. Greeley and Hansen, A TYLin Company, was retained by Missouri American Water to perform hydraulic modeling and planning evaluations. With this expansion, the Water Sector is now serving American Water in seven of the 14 states where it operates.

Missouri American Water provides water and sewer service to 30 counties, serving close to 1.5 million customers, or about one in four Missourians. With more than 40 water systems and over 80 wastewater systems, the wastewater collection and water distribution system combine for about 7,500 miles of pipeline and over 300 pumping stations.

Greeley and Hansen was recently selected for the Parkville Water Distribution System Study to evaluate and develop alternatives to address system reliability, water age concerns, and capacity shortfalls. Parkville is in St. Louis County and home to Park University, which has an enrollment of nearly 12,000 students. The planning study will include hydraulic modeling simulations for the year 2050 to identify needed capital improvements to water transmission mains, water storage tanks, and booster pumping stations.

Missouri American Water also awarded us a second assignment to complete the Jefferson City Source Water Reliability and Ice Study. The study will evaluate and develop alternatives to address challenges during cold weather and low river level conditions with frazil ice, which limits production at the Jefferson City Water Treatment Plant.

As a result, this study will review existing and future water demand requirements against reliable supply capacity, considering the full range of anticipated river levels and cold weather conditions. Potential solutions may include adding auxiliary wells to supplement water supply, modifying the existing intake or providing a redundant intake, installing heating elements to mitigate frazil ice, and identifying alternative solutions to mitigate risks of water supply deficits.

machine inside the Anacostia River Tunnel.

THE TUNNEL BORING MACHINE INSIDE THE ANACOSTIA RIVER TUNNEL.

Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitations at 13 Tri-Rail Stations

MIAMI-DADE, BROWARD, AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES, FLORIDA, USA

TYLin was recently selected by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) to provide Construction Engineering and Inspection (CE&I) services for “state of good repair” pedestrian bridge rehabilitations at 13 of its 18 Tri-Rail stations. This award is an important milestone as it is the first rail CE&I contract awarded to TYLin’s newly organized Project Management + Construction Management (PM+CM) practice in Florida, signifying our expanding presence in the state.

The construction contract was awarded to Southern Road & Bridge, LLC for USD 12.6 million and is scheduled to start in late September 2023. Construction of the 13 bridge rehabilitations is expected to begin in early October and spans a two-year timeline for completion. TYLin’s CE&I services fee is USD 1.3 million.

Leading the charge is TYLin’s Jim McCombs , PE, supported by a dynamic team of Alejandro Salas , PE, Daniel Tessoff, and Miguel Nadal . Their mission includes a comprehensive overhaul at each bridge, encompassing tasks like concrete deck replacements (on all but three bridges),

abrasive cleaning and painting (all but one bridge), signage updates, electrical conduit work, joint sealant application, and other essential repairs.

The project covers a staggering 68 miles of the South Florida Rail Corridor (SFRC), stretching from Mangonia Park in West Palm Beach to the Metrorail Transfer Station in Hialeah, Florida — a distance typically covered by a Tri-Rail train in just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

A key differentiator for TYLin was our understanding of the unique hazards associated with working within active rail corridors and our familiarity with the regulatory requirements for safety training and ontrack protection. Many of our team members have also worked within the corridors of the numerous host railroads. We are familiar with the training, personal protective equipment, recordkeeping, and on-track safety requirements for various tasks along this rail corridor, as TYLin has supported SFRTA with the maintenance and operation of the rail right-of-way.

A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER TRACKS AT ONE OF SFRTA’S TRI-RAIL STATIONS.

Finding Real Mobility Solutions

Our colleagues at Sam Schwartz, A TYLin Company, are experts in urban mobility, and they share their expertise through compelling blog articles.

A recent blog, Fictional City, Real Solutions , highlights key elements of an ambitious proposal for Institute of Transportation Engineer’s (ITE) “Optimizing Main St.” competition. The prompt involved an imaginary city where engineers could “optimize the right-of-way for a corridor that could serve as an example in terms of balancing corridor needs, safety, operations, mobility, equity, and livability.”

Sam Schwartz’s vision is for a street that functions as a safe and effective transportation corridor as well as a desirable public space. It is an innovative solution designed to ably serve residents’ social needs while generating an active, thriving retail environment. Read some of the highlights

INSIGHTS

LEARN MORE ABOUT ONEMOBILITY

Detailed Design for Rehabilitation of Mexico’s K Railway Line

SOUTHEAST MEXICO

IDEAM, A TYLin Company, through the subsidiary IDEAM Ingenieros Estructurales de México, has been awarded the contract for the “Development of Studies and Executive Projects for the Rehabilitation, Replacement, Modernization and/or Reconstruction of 526 Bridges and Railways on the Line K and KA Ixtepec, Oax.-CD. Hidalgo, Chiapas Regarding the Program for the Development of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec 2020-2024.”

The K railway line runs through the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, from Ixtepec, Oaxaca, to Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, and connects with the country of Guatemala along its 473-kilometre route. The contract includes the evaluation and rehabilitation or replacement of all bridges on the line and the complete rehabilitation of all structures and tracks along its length. The rehabilitation of the K Line and its structures will be carried out by IDEAM and GPO Group, TYLin Companies.

The client, RECAL, has the contract for the rehabilitation of the K Line, which is currently inoperative, under the management and supervision of the Secretary of the Navy SEMAR. This project aims to establish the line, in conjunction with Lines Z and FA, as a freight rail transport service that interconnects the main cities and railway ports of Mexico’s southeastern region and four states with the greatest development potential, promoting the country’s socio-economic development.

This contract strengthens TYLin’s presence in Mexico and is a notable challenge for the design and rehabilitation of rail structures.

Inactive bridges on the K railway line. Map of K railway line (circled area).

Detailed Design of Seven Z Line Bridges in Mexico

SOUTHEAST MEXICO

IDEAM, A TYLin Company, through the subsidiary IDEAM Ingenieros Estructurales de México, has been awarded the contract for “Technical Viability Studies and Executive Projects for the Rehabilitation, Replacement, Modernization and/or Reconstruction of seven Railway Bridges in Section 2, KM. Z-137+564 to Z-186+046, of the ‘Z’ Line,” between the towns of Ubero and Mogoñe, in the State of Oaxaca in Mexico. With a length of 212 kilometres, Line Z connects the states of Veracruz and Oaxaca and is integrated into the Mexican railway network of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

The client, RECAL, has the contract for the construction, execution, and commissioning of the works related to the replacement of seven of the 16 currently existing railway bridges of section 2, under the management and supervision of the Secretary of the Navy SEMAR.

This project seeks to establish Line Z, in conjunction with Lines K and FA, as a freight rail transport service that links the cities, railway ports, and southeastern states with the most significant potential to spur socioeconomic development.

Map of Z railway line (circled area). Existing Z railway line bridges.

Design Lot DF119, Circular Line East Section of Taipei MRT System

TAIPEI, TAIWAN

In Taiwan, the Taipei Metropolitan Area Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System Circular Line Eastern Section DF119 Design Lot project will connect the radial metro lines of the Taipei metropolitan area with a circular route. A significant endeavor within the government’s proactive, forwardlooking plans, the project primarily addresses pressing traffic congestion issues in the Neihu Science Park. The planned route spans 4.75 kilometers and includes six underground stations and an underground depot.

TYLin’s Taiwan team is collaborating with CECI in a joint venture for this project. We are responsible for the design of the Y33 and Y34 stations in section B, along with the preceding, middle, and subsequent segments of the shield tunnels.

The project will maximize land use adjacent to the stations through value engineering in station design, effectively shortening the length of the station’s main area to achieve

engineering reduction. Additionally, the design aims to provide an intuitive and straightforward passenger experience, aligning with the project principles of simplicity, lightweight, differentiation within unity, and aesthetic considerations. During the darker night hours, the station will provide a lighting environment that adds vibrancy and warmth to the urban space for evening commuters.

The trend for future metro systems in Taiwan is to adopt underground configurations. This project calls for design expertise in both underground tunnels and stations. We look forward to providing this expertise and accumulating relevant experience as we engage in various domestic and international underground structural design projects.

RENDERING OF CIRCULAR LINE EAST SECTION STATION.

Renderings of Circular Line East Section station entrance (top) and underground platform (bottom).

SR 520 West Approach Bridge South: Innovations in Construction and Seismic Design

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, USA

In Seattle, Washington, the Montlake eastbound on-ramp to State Route (SR) 520 recently opened to traffic, replacing an existing one-mile bridge with a seismically resilient structure that integrates accelerated bridge construction methods. TYLin’s state-of-the-art concept used precast elements and seismic isolation bearings — accelerating construction and significantly reducing costs for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Strategic use of precast elements like columns, diaphragms, and girders allowed for a Lego®-style assembly. Swift onsite installation of precast columns deviated from traditional formwork and pouring methods, considerably minimizing the need for temporary falsework over the water. TYLin was able to anticipate and navigate challenges through precise construction sequencing analyses, allowing for an efficient, streamlined construction process.

Seismic resilience was also a critical design element, as WSDOT had to consider the risks of future earthquakes. The bridge is enhanced by triple friction pendulum isolation bearings, which significantly reduce the forces transferred to the foundations by isolating the superstructure. Despite the heightened cost associated with these specialized bearings, this approach substantially reduces foundation dimensions, resulting in significant savings for our contractors, Graham and American Bridge. Moreover, the precast diaphragms serve a dual function as effective formwork for setting girders, expediting the construction progress.

In alignment with WSDOT’s goals of increased capacity and multimodal integration, the new structure added a new high-occupancy vehicle lane and was designed to be compatible with future light-rail configurations. TYLin worked with WSDOT to develop the analyses for

various scenarios, paving the way for Sound Transit to expand its light-rail system from Seattle to the east of Lake Washington.

As the SR 520 West Approach Bridge South (WABS) welcomes vehicular traffic, it introduces an innovative, resilient, and multifunctional structure, setting an impressive benchmark for future bridge projects in Washington State. The WABS is part of the overall SR 520 Montlake Project, for which TYLin serves as Design Manager and Prime Consultant. The entire project is scheduled to open to the public in early spring 2024.

INSIGHTS

Innovative precast columns allowed for an expedient construction process.

The WABS begins at the TYLin-designed Pedestrian Land Bridge, expected to open in 2024. In-process construction showing gantries lifting and setting precast components for Lego®-style construction.

Dynamic Partnership Shapes Future of Syracuse Airport

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, USA

In a Dar Group collaboration, TYLin has been working alongside Perkins&Will and Currie & Brown as subconsultants to our Global Infrastructure partner Landrum & Brown on the USD 300 million redevelopment of the Central Terminal Areas at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) in Syracuse, New York. The team recently provided architectural and engineering services to plan and design 15% design-build enabling documents.

SYR faces two significant landside infrastructure challenges: a 4-story, 2,455-space parking garage that is functionally obsolete and needs repair and a congested terminal area curb-front unable to accommodate projected passenger growth.

Parking garage challenges: Areas of the parking garage can no longer bear its load capacity due to advanced deterioration and have been removed from service. Each year, repair contracts temporarily remove more spaces from service. The parking deck also lacks many contemporary amenities and design elements of modern parking structures. The project is prompted by structural issues in the parking deck but also encompasses the redevelopment of poorly functioning curb frontage and canopies at the airport.

Terminal challenges: Challenges for the terminal arise from intrusive columns supporting pedestrian bridges at the terminal frontage, limiting traffic flow. The existing curbside canopy fails to offer all-weather protection, frequently leading to sidewalk closures and passenger congestion. The project aims to reconfigure and expand the terminal area, realign entry boulevards and roadways, expand surface parking, replace the old parking structure with two larger garages, introduce a consolidated rent-a-car (ConRAC) garage, and install a new terminal curb-front canopy.

TYLin’s Rochester, New York, and New Hampshire staff spearheaded the structural and civil engineering and traffic study aspects, covering roadways, pedestrian pathways, parking lots, new garages, and canopies. Construction of an enabling project is underway, and the consolidated rental car center (ConRAC) garage is expected to commence in early 2024 under a designbid-build arrangement. The remainder of the work will be phased and procured using design-build.

This ambitious project will modernize SYR’s terminal area, alleviate traffic issues, and enhance the passenger experience by providing upgraded infrastructure and addressing existing deficiencies.

MILESTONES

RENDERINGS PRODUCED BY PERKINS & WILL.

Frank J. Wood Bridge Replacement Project Begins Construction

BRUNSWICK AND TOPSHAM, MAINE, USA

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is proceeding with plans to replace the Frank J. Wood Bridge connecting two vibrant Maine towns, Brunswick and Topsham. The Federal Highway Administration recently confirmed the prudence of replacing the bridge rather than rehabilitating it. TYLin developed the design as the Engineer of Record and is assisting with construction oversight on the replacement project.

The project began with a detailed alternatives analysis that compared a range of rehabilitation and replacement options during the preliminary design phase from 2015 to 2017. The project was delayed as local activists lobbied for the State to rehabilitate the structure. The existing three-span steel through truss, built in 1931, has continued to deteriorate rapidly. Recent inspections have revealed alarming section loss and rapidly progressing corrosion, leading to the prohibition of commercial vehicle use since November 2021. TYLin’s team completed the final design of the replacement structure, and the construction contract was awarded to local contractor Reed & Reed in the spring of 2023.

As TYLin developed the replacement bridge project, our engineers focused on tying the design to the unique site’s ecological and historical significance and the energetic local communities. Balancing the intricate site parameters — including historic structures, parkland, a fish ladder, and a power-generating dam — added complexity to the project. Our team engaged with local committees, orchestrated public outreach, and obtained community consensus, aligning the design recommendation with the multimodal aspirations of the two communities.

The future bridge promises enhanced connectivity for Topsham and Brunswick. The new structure will be a four-span, 815-foot curved continuous steel girder bridge on a new upstream alignment. Designed to endure for a century, it will feature bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides, embracing safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. Overlooks on the bridge and overlook parks on either bank of the river will enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings and provide views of the historic mills and nearby Pejepscot Falls.

TYLin is excited to deliver a safe connection for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Construction began in summer 2023 and will be completed in 2026.

THE RENDERING SHOWS THE UNIQUE SPAN ARRANGEMENT OF THE COMPLEX STEEL GIRDERS NECESSITATED BY SITE CONSTRAINTS. THE REPLACEMENT STRUCTURE’S WORK TRESTLE, SHOWN DURING AUGUST CONSTRUCTION.

Modernizing and Expanding Higher Education Institutions

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA; AMHERST, MA; ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA

Higher Education is one of the pillars on which Silman, A TYLin Company, was founded and on which it continues to thrive. Our portfolio shows an ongoing commitment to helping colleges and universities meet their evolving needs: expanded facilities to meet increased enrollment, modern pedagogical environments, new spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration, and cutting-edge technology. Three recent projects in various stages of design and construction exemplify this experience.

At Pennsylvania’s Penn State University, Silman is providing structural engineering services for the new Palmer Museum of Art , which will open in spring 2024. Designed by Allied Works Architecture, the new steel-framed building will nearly double the current gallery space, allowing the institution to show more of its collections. The Palmer Museum, whose original building dates to 1972, is the largest art museum between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Rather than constructing a new building from the ground up, an ongoing project at Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, will reuse the lower levels of an existing cast-in-place concrete science building that originally opened in 1968. Silman is

currently finishing construction documents while the demolition of the top-level concrete is underway.

These upper concrete levels will be replaced with a mass timber overbuild. The new structure, designed by architect Herzog & de Meuron, will contain a student center and dining hall. The mass timber and reuse strategy will reduce the overall project’s embodied carbon volume by around 50%, helping to realize Amherst’s Climate Action Plan.

As announced in early August, Silman is on the design team for a new Center for Collaborative Arts and Technology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with architect Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R). Groundbreaking is slated for summer 2024.

The new USD 65 million facility is intended to catalyze creativity and innovation. It will replace the functions of the current Center for Fine Arts building, which was built in 1963 and no longer serves the modern needs of all programs and departments. Silman’s previous higher education collaborations with DS+R include the Prior Center for the Performing Arts at College of the Holy Cross.

PRIOR CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. (IMAGE CREDIT: IWAN BAAN)

PARTIAL DEMOLITION IS UNDERWAY AT THE SITE OF AMHERST COLLEGE’S NEW STUDENT CENTER AND DINING COMMONS.

THE NEW PALMER MUSEUM OF ART AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY. (IMAGE CREDIT: ALLIED WORKS ARCHITECTURE)

Execution of Sabiñánigo Viaduct Deck

SABIÑÁNIGO, HUESCA, SPAIN

In Huesca, Spain, the construction of the third span of the central concrete box-girder of the Sabiñánigo Viaduct (structure E-4) over the Gállego and Aurín Rivers on the Mudéjar Highway (A-23) has been completed. The operation was supervised by engineers from IDEAM, A TYLin Company, who were posted onsite. Close to 800 cubic metres of concrete were poured during 16 hours of uninterrupted work by 40 operators and four auto concrete pumps working simultaneously.

The Sabiñánigo Viaduct is 933.7 metres long, 25.10 metres wide, and has a span distribution of 9×90+74+49.70 metres. The deck is a large posttensioned concrete box girder with variable depth and wide lateral overhangs supported by a series of precast concrete lateral struts. The large lateral overhangs of the cross section will be executed in the second phase using a wing traveler.

The last to be executed, the large lateral span 1 of 90 metres was determined by the location of the Gállego River and the steep slope next to abutment 1. The 90-metre typical spans represent a world record for a deck executed using a movable scaffolding system (MSS), equaling the span reached on a viaduct on the Ankara-Kirikkale high-speed line in Turkey.

The work is being performed by the joint venture (JV) Rover Grupo–Grupo Aldesa for the Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana. The JV contractor responsible for the deck execution using the MSS is Grupo TecoZam. IDEAM provided the detailed design for the JV and is providing technical assistance during construction.

FOUR AUTO CONCRETE BOOM PUMPS WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY.

GENERAL VIEW OF DECK VIADUCT EXECUTION. POURING THE CONCRETE DECK. LATERAL VIEW OF DECK VIADUCT CONSTRUCTION.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Full-Speed, Closed-Loop Test Field

LUKANG TOWNSHIP, CHANGHUA COUNTY, TAIWAN

TYLin’s Taiwan office is participating in the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC) Foundation’s Vehicle Research and Testing Center project, executed by the main contractor Sing Yuan Construction. The project will establish a full-speed, closed-loop test field for all vehicle types. The groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on July 31 and attended by P. C. Huang , Vice President of TYLin Taiwan.

This project will construct Taiwan’s first all-weather high-speed autonomous vehicle validation and testing field. Testing environments will be available for various vehicle types under varied conditions, including heavy rainfall, dense fog, and tunnels. Products for smart vehicles and more will be able to be tested under conditions such as rain, fog, and sunrise/sunset to evaluate elements like logical judgments.

Testing parameters take reference from notable international organizations such as JARI in Japan and CARISSMA in Germany. The project is scheduled for completion in 680 days, with a target completion date of April 2025.

Ceremony guests included: (far left) Wang Cheng-Chien, Vehicle Center, ARTC; (2nd from left) Chiu Chiu-Hui, Director, Technical Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs; (2nd from right) Huang Pi-Chien, TYLin Taiwan; and (far right) Yang Kuo-Tung, Chairman of Hsin Yuan Construction Co. Future ARTC Research and Testing Center. Simulation Diagram of Raining Scenario Testing System. Simulation of lighting test.

Bringing Added Value to MaineDOT

AUGUSTA, MAINE, USA

TYLin has been a trusted partner of the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) for many years. We consistently deliver a wide range of services, including engineering, design, and construction inspection for various bridge and highway projects. However, our relationship goes beyond conventional engineering services.

For over a decade, Shawn Davis , PE, has been instrumental in enhancing the skills and knowledge of MaineDOT employees through business writing and technical math training. Shawn initiated this unique education series that has become fundamental to MaineDOT’s professional growth offerings while an employee of the Department. In 2018, when Shawn transitioned to the consulting industry, MaineDOT requested that he continue his instruction through a contract with TYLin.

A Senior Project Manager with TYLin, Shawn offers a variety of soft-skill management classes, including Powerful Presentations, Intermediate Writing, Professional Writing, Team Building, Change Management, and Dealing with Difficult People. While Shawn tailors his courses to the unique context of MaineDOT, much of the nonwriting curriculum is attributed to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Leadership Institute (formerly the National Transportation Leadership Institute). Shawn is a graduate of this comprehensive management and leadership skills program focused on the transportation industry.

MaineDOT has chosen to leverage the extensive expertise within our TYLin team. Project managers, operations managers, bridge construction resident

engineers and inspectors, construction technical staff, and maintenance personnel have all taken advantage of Shawn’s offerings. Shawn believes his varied experiences and perspectives with MaineDOT resonate most with the Department.

He notes, “Having previously served as a Construction Inspector, Designer, Project Manager, and Resource Manager, I have obtained a healthy respect for and knowledge of nearly every aspect of their business and can be sure to target instruction to the specific audience’s need.”

TYLin’s commitment to delivering value to our clients extends beyond traditional services, as exemplified by this enduring partnership. We take pride in our ability to provide comprehensive solutions. This collaboration underscores those efforts and further solidifies our reputation as a trusted and invaluable partner.

INSIGHTS

Shawn Davis, PE

2023 Winners of ASCE San Diego Section Awards

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA

The following TYLin people and projects won 2023 awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Diego Section this past June:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Rucker, PE, Vice President and Southern California/Nevada Unit Manager

Outstanding Civil Engineering Student: Alanna Bantigue, EIT, Roads and Highways Engineering

Outstanding Civil Engineer in Community Service: Nardin Metwashla , PE, Senior Bridge Engineer

Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project: San Elijo Pedestrian Lagoon and Pedestrian Bridges

Outstanding Project of the Year & Outstanding Transportation Project: Build North Coast Corridor Program

NEWS

Jim Rucker, PE Alanna Bantigue, EIT Nardin Metwashla, PE San Elijo Pedestrian Lagoon and Pedestrian Bridges

Luis Matute Rubio Honored with Outstanding Civil Engineer Award 2022

MADRID, SPAIN

Civil Engineers Madrid Demarcation College in Spain recently honored Luis Matute Rubio, Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of IDEAM, A TYLin Company, as Outstanding Civil Engineer 2022 for his long and successful professional career. Since receiving his Master of Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid in 1992, Luis has advanced his professional career at IDEAM in the field of bridges and singular structures. In his more than 30 years of experience, he has held all positions in the company, including General Manager since 2007 and CEO since December 2021.

Luis has combined his professional role with teaching, serving as an Associate Professor at the European University of Madrid from 2009 to 2013. Since 2014, he has been an Associate Professor of Bridges and Metallic and Composite Structures at the Higher Technical School of Civil Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.

Luis has also published numerous articles in national and international technical journals and scientifictechnical conference proceedings books, and has authored various technical presentations at national and international symposiums and conferences.

Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project Named BEST in USA

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, USA

The Mid-Coast Corridor construction project has been recognized as the BEST in the USA by the Construction Risk Partners Build America awards, and we are incredibly honored to have played a part in its success.

The project expanded capacity and extended San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Blue Line Trolley to include the University of California San Diego campus and University Towne Center. TYLin provided Project Management Consultant services, Federal Transit Administration processing support, design reviews, and construction oversight.

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated and collaborative effort of all stakeholders, but huge congratulations go to the amazing construction crew that completed this USD 1.4 billion project on time and on budget!

Luis Matute Rubio, CEO of IDEAM, A TYLin Company One of the MTS trolley stations. The Mid-Coast Corridor project extended the San Diego Trolley system.

I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge Rehabilitation Wins Again

KITTERY, MAINE, USA

Continuing its winning trend, the I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge Rehabilitation has been honored again with a 2023 National Recognition Award in the national American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards competition. This prestigious awards program honors complex projects worldwide that showcase innovation, value to the engineering profession, sustainability, and fulfillment of client needs.

This bridge is essential to commerce and tourism for the State of Maine. The 4,503-foot-long through-arch structure carries six lanes of traffic between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. Using an innovative traffic management solution, TYLin assured safety and traffic maintenance throughout the rehabilitation. Despite being the first major rehabilitation since the bridge’s construction in 1972, there was little to no impact on daily traffic volumes, which, at their peak, can reach 130,000 vehicles.

In partnership with the bridge owners (the Maine and New Hampshire Departments of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority), TYLin developed a

sophisticated Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) scheme and mandated a movable temporary concrete barrier system that shifts traffic quickly and efficiently. Opening and closing traffic lanes in this work zone only took 15 minutes. TYLin paired the Road Zipper System® with an intricate and incentivized MOT scheme that fine-tuned lane closures to the exact traffic patterns on the bridge. This innovation had never been used in northern New England.

Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) celebrated ranking among the best worldwide by recognizing the efforts of its engineers, designers, consultant, and the project’s key stakeholders with a celebratory lunch in Augusta, Maine. TYLin’s Project Manager, Daniel Myers , PE, chronicled the history of the bridge and, as recognition for the daily onsite efforts of the construction staff, presented MaineDOT’s Project Resident Engineer, Craig Hurd, with the award.

TYLin Presents at PICE 2023 Midyear Convention and Technical Conference

The Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) is the premier organization for civil engineers in the Philippines, with 190,000 members among different chapters locally and abroad. PICE promotes knowledge sharing, networking, and collaborative efforts, and professional conventions are one of the highlights each year to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and pave the way for future advancements.

The PICE Midyear Convention of 2023, through its President, extended an invitation to TYLin’s Marwan Nader, PhD, PE, P.Eng., Bridge Sector Leader, to be one of the plenary presenters on June 9. The PICE President is also the Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) –the main proponent of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) Project.

Dr. Nader presented a technical paper entitled, “The Cutting-Edge Technologies in Bridge Design and How They are Applied to the BCIB Project in the Philippines.” During his presentation, he touched on the remarkable experiences — both personal and with TYLin — that informed the ongoing detailed engineering design of the 32-kilometer BCIB Project. He also highlighted how sitespecific challenges, such as high seismicity, typhoons, vessel collision, wave loads due to tsunamis, associated scour, and the marine environment local to Manila Bay, make the project truly extraordinary.

Dr. Nader says, “When built, the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, regarded as a priority project of the Philippines Government, will provide a vital link for economic growth in the Philippines and will be hailed as one of the biggest structures worldwide.”

The BCIB Project puts the Philippines on the world map in terms of its advanced infrastructure development. The bridge stands to be the fifth longest cable-stayed bridge on the planet.

SMX CONVENTION CENTER, PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES TYLin’s Marwan Nader presented on the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge at the 2023 PICE Midyear Convention. Rendering of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.

Training Future Women Engineers at Camp NAWIC

HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA, USA

School may have been out for summer, but the National Association of Women in Construction’s (NAWIC) summer camp was in session! Hosted at Hawthorne High School in Hawthorne, California, Camp NAWIC 2023 catered to a group of high school girls interested in careers in engineering and construction. The weeklong event featured technical presentations, group activities, and site visits to some of Southern California’s most high-profile jobsites.

TYLin was a proud sponsor of this year’s Camp NAWIC. Our own Brenda Elias Zarate, Yesenia Garcia, Jazmin Martinez, Poonam Bhakta , Tessa Jamsran, and Megan Calm served as Camp Captains on June 27. They presented on the importance of engineering and how the work we do makes the world a safer and more sustainable place. Later, the team orchestrated a group activity, which included building model bridges out of straws and masking tape and testing each design’s load using juice boxes.

During the post-activity debrief, a student correctly identified the strength of one bridge design in particular, saying, “The triangle is the strongest shape.” These girls really know their stuff! We can’t wait to participate again in the future.

The purpose of the NAWIC is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry by providing opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more. NAWIC Orange County was founded in June 1964 as the 91st Chapter of NAWIC.

TYLin’s Poonam Bhakta (right) helped run a debriefing session on the bridge-building exercise. TYLin’s Camp NAWIC Captains (left to right): Yesenia Garcia, Poonam Bhakta, Brenda Elias Zarate, Tessa Jamsran, Megan Calm, and Jazmin Martinez. NAWIC CAMPERS TESTING THE LOAD CAPACITY OF THEIR BRIDGE DESIGNS.

TYLin Supports 2023 Northwest Florida Construction Career Days

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, USA

TYLin supported the recent 2023 Northwest Florida Construction Career Days (CCD) event organized by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 3 in Northwest Florida at the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds. Volunteer chaperones for the event, which hosted close to 1,000 students from area high schools and magnet/trade schools, included Lyle Carter, Jessi Stephens , and James Kanter, PE, LEED AP. The TYLin chaperones guided groups of 10 to 20 students through a series of learning labs, hands-on construction equipment displays, and career booths that introduced them to job and internship opportunities and career paths in the construction and engineering industries.

Launched in 1999 by transportation industry officials, the nationwide CCD program is an educational outreach program to cultivate interest and engagement in high school students regarding a wide variety of skilled construction careers to increase the number of workers in the construction industry. In Florida, partner agencies and organizations responsible for the event include FDOT, the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, the Suncoast Utility Contractors Association, the National Association of Women in Construction, and the Federal Highway Administration. FDOT and its partner agencies hold the annual CCD events in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa, Pensacola, and Orlando.

Industry participants included contractors, design and engineering firms, material and equipment suppliers, and the heavy civil construction community, who volunteered as event sponsors and chaperones, donated refreshments, provided prizes, and hosted exhibit tables. Last year, CCD awarded USD 20,000 in scholarships. This year, the organizers are aiming for USD 50,000 in scholarships, thanks to increased consultant support.

Students getting hands-on experience operating heavy equipment. TYLin staff and students in the FDOT sign lab.

TYLin Wins Highest Distinction for Bitan Weir Improvement Project

NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN

The 2023 New Taipei City Government Public Works Quality Award program announced its winners on July 28, with only 11 projects receiving recognition. Among them, the Bitan Weir Improvement and Surrounding Environment Enhancement project, designed and supervised by TYLin’s Taiwan office, was awarded the highest distinction.

The restoration plan for the Bitan Weir involved maintaining a fixed weir type at both ends while installing four flap-gate weirs in the middle to replace the damaged rubber dams. The collapsible gates can be raised to improve the upstream water environment and lowered to increase flood discharge capacity and enhance riverbank safety. This design adds operational flexibility and increases resilience in extreme weather conditions.

The project integrates various design disciplines, such as water resources, structures, geotechnics, electromechanical systems, and landscaping. Our design also reflects local community participation, enhancing the environment while integrating engineering and ecological design concepts.

Additionally, fish-pass solutions have been incorporated, creating an ecological restoration corridor for the Xindian River. This successful integration has enabled crab and fish migration to achieve the goal of enhancing the surrounding environment. The Bitan Scenic Area has again become a prominent highlight in the country, attracting visitors with its natural beauty.

The fish pass facilitates fish species’ natural migration. The Bitan Weir maintains a fixed weir type at both ends, with a fish pass (left).

Increasing Space and Achieving ISO 45001 Certification

TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN

TYLin’s Taiwan operations continue to grow, with an employee count surpassing 720. In addition to expanding office space on the 18th floor of the Southern Office, our Taipei headquarters has also leased new office space on the 11th floor and integrated existing scattered office areas. This move increases workspace and efficiency, offering staff a safer and more comfortable working environment.

The Taiwan team has also established an Occupational Health and Safety Office, with dedicated medical professionals to care for employees’ physical and mental well-being. Gender-friendly measures and a nursing room have also been implemented. The Occupational Health and Safety Management System has achieved ISO 45001 certification, aiming for a friendly workplace through employee care.

TYLin’s new office space in Taipei. Ray Wang, President of TYLin Taiwan (center, in gray shirt), with colleagues from the Southern Office.

Bridging Communities

KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON, USA

Pittsburgh Engineer, the quarterly publication of the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania, published a “Special Issue of the 2023 International Bridge Conference with a Focus on Pedestrian Bridges.” The issue features the article “ Bridging the Gap Between Art and Engineering: The Evolution of Iconic Pedestrian Bridges ,” authored by TYLin Jeremy LaHaye, PE, Senior Bridge Engineer, Bobby Sokolowski, PE, Lead Bridge Engineer, and Dan Fitzwilliam, PE, Bridge Sector Manager, Southwest.

The article discusses the growing demand for landmark pedestrian bridges and how these structures have moved from an emphasis on function providing a crossing for nonmotorized users – to iconic structures where design is driving stronger community connections.