Construction as lead contractor. This section, a new five-lane boule - vard facility, features: • Two miles of new roadway on new alignment • Seven signalized intersections • Seven bridges of various types • Four groups of retaining walls • Three Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater treatment • New sanitary, storm and combined sewers • Electric, storm, and sanitary stubs installed for future development Accounting for Existing Railroad and Transit Infrastructure Because of the location of the “Forgotten Triangle,” work required significant coordination with, and adjustments to, cargo railroads and commuter transit infrastructure. When it comes to excavations for major projects, particularly in dense - ly developed urban areas, there are alternatives to the conventional bottom-up building approach. As was the case with Opportunity Cor- ridor, Section 3, the team employed top-down construction versus the bottom-up method. Michael Baker recommended this method because of its many benefits, including: • The ability to construct substructure elements such as abutments and piers from existing grade elevation downwards without prior excava- tion or the need for extensive amounts of temporary shoring. • The ability to construct retaining walls from existing grade elevation downwards without prior excavation or the need for extensive amounts of temporary shoring. • Allowing construction of bridges at the ground level, reducing the equipment necessary for erecting and detailing bridge superstructures. • Better overall construction schedule flexibility with disposition of excavated materials. The new Norfolk Southern mainline bridge over the Opportunity Cor- ridor required this phased, top-down design approach and a shoofly relocation to maintain the Norfolk Southern tracks. Section 1 involved the relocation of Norfolk Southern to the east, while a portion of the new bridge was constructed. Section 2 involved the relocation of Norfolk Southern onto the newly constructed portion of the bridge Design-Build Design Project Manager Lawrence P. Ciborek, P.E., Project Manager – Bridge at Michael Baker International Design-Build Lead Roadway Engineer Sean Milroy, P.E., PMP, DBIA, Project Manager – Transportation at Michael Baker International Design-Built Lead Structures Engineer Chris Cummings, P.E., DBIA, Department Manager – Bridge at Michael Baker International Owners Representative Julie A. Meyer, P.E., Opportunity Corridor Project Manager at Ohio Department of Transportation Design-Build Project Manager Kerry Hart, DBIA, Senior Area Manager at Kokosing Construction
Photo: ODOT/Kokosing Construction
neighborhoods, had become known as the “Forgotten Triangle” due to a lack of economic activity and investment. Encompassing nearly 1,000 acres on Cleveland’s southeast side, the Cleveland City Coun - cil Wards 5 and 6 neighborhoods had been a hub of heavy industry since the 1880s. However, population and investment in the area had declined and by the early 2000s, the neighborhood was experiencing abandonment and neglect. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the City of Cleveland recognized the “Forgotten Triangle” as a remarkable op- portunity for neighborhood regeneration. An Opportunity Corridor Steering Committee was formed with representatives from ODOT, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Area Community Development Corporations (CDC), Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), residents, business owners, and other local stakeholders. After completing the Opportunity Corridor Study, three primary needs for the area were identified: • Improving system linkage among the roads, neighborhoods, and busi- nesses in the area • Improving mobility between the Interstate system and University Circle • Supporting planned economic development In late 2021, the long-awaited Opportunity Corridor, a new three-mile roadway that runs from East 55th Street at Interstate 490 to East 105th Street, reached substantial completion. The 35-mph boulevard includes a median, crosswalks, pedestrian and traffic signals, a multi-use path, tree lawns and vehicular, pedestrian and rail bridges. The thoroughfare not only brings enhanced transportation, mobility, and connectivity benefits to this area of Cleveland, but it is also spurring new economic development, new jobs and a new identity for the community. Addi - tionally, it enhances access to Cleveland's cultural hub, healthcare, and educational facilities. The Opportunity Corridor project was split into three sections. Design- Build was selected as the project delivery method for Section 3, with Michael Baker International serving as the lead designer and Kokosing
33
May 2022 csengineermag.com
Made with FlippingBook Annual report