Salem Overpass Project Honored at WV-ACEC Joint Transportation Forum

Salem Overpass Award from WV-ACEC Joint Transportation Forum

HRG’s Morgantown Office Manager Samer Petro was proud to accept this award for the Salem Overpass Bridge project at the West Virginia – ACEC Joint Transportation Forum banquet. He is pictured here with Stephen Todd Rumbaugh, P.E., deputy state highway engineer of the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways.

The project involves the replacement of dual structures carrying eastbound and westbound US Route 50 over WV 23 in Harrison County, West Virginia. It is slated for construction in 2017 and was a finalist in the Large Bridge category.

Thank you to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, for nominating us for this award.

Van Voorhis Trailhead Featured in West Virginia Executive Magazine

Van Voorhis Trailhead in WV Executive magazineHRG’s Morgantown Office Manager Samer Petro wrote an article about our Van Voorhis Trailhead project for the Summer 2016 issue of West Virginia Executive magazine.  The article is shared here with their permission and is also available in the online edition of their magazine.

Visit the Van Voorhis Trailhead on a sunny weekend afternoon, and you will find it packed with locals of all ages. College students, families and seniors alike use the trailhead to experience nature and keep fit, and each one sees it as a valuable recreational asset in the community.

As they admire the greenery along the trail, it’s probably hard for them to imagine that the site used to be the home of a manufacturing facility with potential environmental contaminants, but just three years ago, that’s exactly what it was.

The location of the Van Voorhis Trailhead is the former site of the Quality Glass manufacturing facility, which operated there from the 1930s until the late 1980s. For years the site sat vacant, as former manufacturing facilities often do, since potential owners feared environmental liabilities associated with its previous use.

Monongalia County Commission officials recognized the site’s potential for redevelopment that could benefit the community, and they commissioned an environmental assessment to begin the process of clearing it for new construction. According to the report they commissioned, arsenic, lead and benzo(a)pyrene were among the chemicals present.

In 2012, the Monongalia County Commission used an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup Grant to remediate the site by placing a clay soil cap over the property and covering it with new top soil. They then agreed to deed restrictions that would prevent anyone from breaching the cap and potentially releasing contaminants. The deed also restricted withdrawing groundwater from the site for any purpose except monitoring and remediation.

With the remediated brownfield area cleared for redevelopment, the Monongalia County Commission began seeking an organization to redevelop the property, and the Mon River Trails Conservancy approached them with a vision of a new trailhead that would link the community to the Mon River Rail-Trail. This 48-mile trail links urban and rural communities in Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties and provides an outlet for walking, cycling, running, jogging and cross-country skiing to its inhabitants. Eight miles of the trail are paved, allowing for inline skating as an additional use.

To make the trailhead truly useful for guests, the Mon River Trails Conservancy wanted to expand parking on the site and add restroom facilities. It sounds simple enough, but due to the site’s former use and its location within a flood plain, engineers had to accommodate numerous environmental constraints. In designing the site, they needed to balance the needs to locate the restroom facility outside the flood plain and provide accessibility for those with disabilities while also siting the facilities in a way that avoided contact with contaminated material. They also had to locate the restroom facility to take advantage of the prevailing wind on site because the Mon River Trails Conservancy wanted to construct what is known as a sweet smelling toilet at the trailhead as an environmentally friendly, sustainable restroom facility. This waterless restroom technology, which was originally developed by the U.S. Forest Service, eliminates the odor typically associated with traditional outdoor restroom facilities when properly sited and vented.

The Van Voorhis Trailhead now has a parking lot that can accommodate up to 32 cars, including several handicap-accessible parking spaces; connecting pathways; landscaping; a trail map kiosk and a sweet smelling toilet facility for rail-trail users.

“This work has transformed a degraded, abandoned property into a valuable, useable site for trail access,” says Ella Belling, Mon River Trails Conservancy’s executive director. “It has not only had a positive impact on reducing public exposure to contaminants through the remediation process but has allowed for new community investments that will soon also include a canoe and kayak launch for the Upper Mon Water Trail.”

The Van Voorhis Trailhead project was designed by Morgantown-based civil engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. and was partially funded by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program, as administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s Division of Highways. Other contributing partners include project contractor AllStar Ecology, LLC; the Town of Star City; the Monongalia County Commission; the North Central Brownfield Center; the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Mon River Trails Conservancy.

 

Unionville Road Honored with Road & Bridge Safety Award

photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

Cranberry Township Wins 2016 Road and Bridge Safety Award

Left to Right: PSATS First Vice President Shirl Barnhart, PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner, Cranberry Township Chairman Dick Hadley, Cranberry Township project engineer Kelly Maurer, project engineer Jeff Mikesic of Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic, Inc., PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Planning James Ritzman, president of the Springfield Manor Homeowners Association Steve Nalepa, and Cranberry Township Manager of Streets and Properties Bob Howland.

 

Cranberry Township was honored with a 2016 Road and Bridge Safety Award for the recently completed Unionville Road Reconstruction project. Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) designed this project for Cranberry Township (Butler County), and Youngblood Paving was the project contractor.

The Road and Bridge Safety Award winners were announced at the annual Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors conference on April 19. Winners are selected annually by the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors, and PennDOT.  Projects are chosen based on their improvement to public safety and their benefit to the local community and its economy.

Prior to this project, Unionville Road had been the site of numerous accidents. Frequently, drivers were traveling too fast and colliding with objects such as utility poles and guiderail.  Cranberry Township moved quickly to improve safety by realigning the roadway to remove a dangerous curve, widening it, and correcting drainage issues.  HRG designed the project in just eight weeks, so that the project could be bid and constructed before the end of the year. There have been no reported accidents at this site since the improvements were constructed, and the township has received positive feedback from its residents on the initiative.

Cranberry Township manager Jerry Andree is proud of the project’s success and says, “Thanks to the support of our residents, we’ve been able to take a very proactive approach to maintaining and improving township roadways. This project has greatly enhanced the safety of drivers in our community, and that is the greatest reward of all.”

 

ABOUT HERBERT, ROWLAND & GRUBIC, INC.

Originally founded in 1962, HRG has grown to be a nationally ranked Top 500 Design Firm, providing civil engineering, surveying and environmental services to public and private sector clients. The 200-person employee-owned firm currently has office locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit our website at www.hrg-inc.com.

 

HRG Honored as Employer of the Year by Women’s Transportation Seminar

HRG accepts WTS Employer of the Year award

 

The Central Pennsylvania chapter of WTS has named Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) its 2016 Employer of the Year.

WTS (or Women’s Transportation Seminar) is an international organization that promotes the advancement of women in the transportation industry. Each year, its local chapters recognize employers who enhance the transportation industry through a commitment to excellence and quality, have an outstanding record of affirmative action in hiring and promotions, support continuing education, and encourage women students to enter the transportation field by providing internship opportunities.

HRG Vice President Andrew Kenworthy accepted the award at a ceremony at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg on Wednesday, February 10, 2016.

“HRG is proud of this honor,” Kenworthy says. “Women contribute so much to our company’s success and play a vital role in the transportation industry.  Engineers must solve complex challenges every day, and we believe a diverse workforce is crucial to the creative thinking this field requires.”

 

ABOUT HERBERT, ROWLAND & GRUBIC, INC.

Originally founded in 1962, HRG has grown to be a nationally ranked Top 500 Design Firm, providing civil engineering, surveying and environmental services to public and private sector clients. The 200-person employee-owned firm currently has office locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit our website at www.hrg-inc.com.

HRG’s Projects Recognized with 2014 Dauphin County Premier Project Awards

 

Two of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.’s (HRG) projects received 2014 Dauphin County Premier Project Awards. On Tuesday, January 13, 2015, Dauphin County Commissioners and the Dauphin County Planning Commission held the third annual awards event to recognize improvements that promote smart growth and revitalization within local communities.

HRG is proud to have provided engineering, surveying, and related services throughout the planning, design, and construction of the following award-winning projects.

Derry Township’s recently improved PA 743 and U.S. Route 422 historic square
The Hershey Square, was honored in the “Revitalization” category for projects above $500,000. This large-scale $13 million project is the first phase of a comprehensive plan to upgrade the existing 100-year-old transportation system within the world-renowned Hershey, Pennsylvania. Vast improvements were incorporated to keep pace with the increased traffic flow resulting from this thriving community and popular tourist destination.

Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority’s Solar Farm was recognized in the “Infrastructure” category. This project advances the use of alternative energy in Central Pennsylvania through the creation of one of the largest municipally-owned solar generation farms in Pennsylvania. This initiative is decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and generating revenue to significantly offset the County’s operational costs by 40%.

“We extend our congratulations to Derry Township and Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority for their forward-thinking approach and to improving the wellbeing of their communities,” stated Brian D. Emberg, HRG’s Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer. “It was a sincere honor to be a part of these commendable initiatives.”

 

ABOUT HRG

Originally founded in 1962, HRG has grown to be a nationally ranked Top 500 Design Firm, providing civil engineering, surveying and environmental services to public and private sector clients. The 200-person employee-owned firm currently has office locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Tourist Attraction & Engineering Landmark Recognized with ENR Mid-Atlantic Best Project Award

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (HRG) are pleased to announce that the Kinzua Sky Walk project, a tourist attraction and civil engineering landmark located in McKean County, Pa., was submitted for and recognized with Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) prestigious Mid-Atlantic’s Best Project award in the small projects under $10 million category. This annual award program honors the region’s “best achievements in design and construction.” The 2,000 foot long and 301 foot high Kinzua Viaduct was the longest and tallest railroad viaduct in the world when built in 1882, and eventually became registered as a national civil engineering historic landmark. Through a DCNR initiative, a 2002 inspection by HRG revealed deterioration to the tower columns and anchor system which made it susceptible to high winds. An emergency design-build rehabilitation project was implemented in 2003 but with only half of the structure repairs completed, the viaduct was struck by an F1 tornado on July 21, 2003 and the unrepaired portions of the structure collapsed. Overcoming accessibility and constructability challenges due to the project’s unique location, officials, contractors and a team of HRG’s engineers championed the restoration of the damaged structure to safely support pedestrian access and encourage increased tourism to the site. Now known as the “Kinzua Sky Walk”, a new and innovative element was introduced to the structure that involved a steel framed, octagon observation deck with a glass floor (similar to the Grand Canyon Sky Walk) at its center to permit viewing and observation of the support structure. “The six towers of the original viaduct have been restored, with the addition of a pedestrian walkway with a partial glass floor that extends out into the Kinzua Gorge,” DCNR Secretary Richard J. Allan said. “The idea to stabilize the structure came in to play soon after the tornado struck. Understanding that this is an important tourist attraction in McKean County, DCNR felt it was important to continue to tell the story of its history, construction and destruction and to invest in this signature destination within the Pennsylvania Wilds region.” “The circumstances and various challenges that arose throughout the duration of the project may have been unpredictable at times,” said Brian D. Emberg, P.E., Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at HRG. “But the Kinzua Sky Walk rehabilitation and restoration project is representative of a true engineering landmark and piece of history for visitors and residents of this region, and we are particularly proud to have played a role in its successful completion.” The judging criteria for the award focused on overcoming significant challenges; adopting innovative approaches; executing exceptional design and craftsmanship, and maintaining safe sites. This one-of-a-kind project will be recognized in a special Mid-Atlantic edition of ENR in December 2012 and at a ceremony on December 11, 2012 in Baltimore, Md. In addition, the project now advances to a national ENR’s Best Project Competition. For more information and photographs on the Kinzua Sky Walk project, please click here.

 

ABOUT DCNR

Established on July 1, 1995, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is charged with maintaining 120 state parks; managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space and natural areas. For more information visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

ABOUT HRG

Originally founded in 1962, HRG has grown to be a nationally ranked Top 500 Design Firm, providing civil engineering, surveying and environmental services to public and private sector clients. The 200-person employee-owned firm currently has office locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.