Surface Transportation/Highway and Bridge

The Tribeca Bridge, which crosses the West Side Highway near Chambers Street, in Manhattan, was repainted — the first repainting since the bridge’s construction in 1992. The bridge connects directly to Stuyvesant High School, one of the most elite public high schools in the country. The $2.3 million project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, without safety incidents, claims, or change orders.

Urban provided construction management services for the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA). We monitored the work of up to three contractors and supervised a field inspection subconsultant. Project challenges included painting in winter weather conditions; maintaining safe access for Stuyvesant High School students; and maintaining traffic over the 11-lane West Side Highway. To expedite the project despite winter conditions, the contractor contained and heated the entire bridge. Traffic control involved night time alternating single and double lane closures to install and remove the containment platform.

In addition to construction management, Urban provided bridge safety inspection services, after a hole was discovered in a bridge beam. Our bridge inspectors provided BPCA a report and recommendations to repair the hole. We also worked closely with the contractor to respond to student and teacher concerns about paint fumes, hiring an environmental firm to verify that the air quality inside the school was safe.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has undertaken the historic $19 billion transformation of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) into a world-class airport. The public/private redevelopment program to build a new JFK includes two giant new terminals across five previous terminal sites, expansion and modernization of existing terminals, streamlined roadways, popular local retail and dining, and stunning New York artwork. Handling more than 62 million passengers a year, JFK is the nation’s busiest airport for international travel and is an indispensable part of global travel and the region’s economy.

The JFK Redevelopment Program will transform JFK into a modern 21st-century airport. The transformation will create a unified terminal layout, world-class facilities, centralized ground transportation options, expanded taxiways and gate capacity, and state-of-the-art security. Key program components for this design-bid-build and design-build via TAA include a new Terminal 1 and the redevelopment of Terminals 4, 6, and 8. The project also includes improved utility infrastructure, roadways, a parking garage, with an elevated pedestrian bridge connecting to the New Terminal One.

The PANYNJ selected UrbanNY to provide construction management, contract administration, inspections, project controls, document management, cost estimating, PACC and change order preparation, construction work in place verification, construction invoice approvals, staff budgeting, construction cash forecasts, construction and financial progress monitoring and reporting, BIM technology coordination and oversight, staging, and logistics.

The Town of Hamburg retained UrbanNY to investigate the subsurface conditions adjacent to the Clock Tower, evaluate the damage from past storm events, and determine adequate remediation efforts to address the current situation and provide a design that can withstand the strong storm events that Lake Erie produces.

The clock tower and concrete walkways behind an existing concrete retaining wall along the east shore of Lake Erie were constructed for the public’s enjoyment. However, a portion of the property immediately adjacent to the site is not protected by a retaining wall, and recent storm events have caused erosion and significant undermining of the concrete walkway and surrounding asphalt parking lot.

Work included soil borings to determine the soil conditions and depth of bedrock and topographical and boundary surveys to determine the property lines and ownership of the adjacent parcels.  A new steel “H” pile sea wall with concrete panels was designed to stabilize the shoreline and protect the existing clock tower from future storm damage. A new observation platform was also designed with amenities like park benches and lighted bollards.  The adjacent parking lot was repaved and striped.

This project was part of an overall plan to improve the structural and operational characteristics of the Niagara Section of the I-190.  Interstate 190 is a critical highway component for the transportation of goods to and from Canada via the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge as well as the Niagara Area – Toronto tourism industry.  The project included completely removing and replacing four, 2-lane steel multi-span structures, utilizing the existing horizontal alignment.  The proposed structures were shorter than the existing structures to reduce the number of bridge spans and piers.  The new structures provided standard vertical and horizontal clearances and corrected the non-standard shoulder widths.

Work under this agreement included construction inspection (CI) services for bridge and highway-related work, including steel bearing pile installation, MSES wall construction, extensive embankment construction, and integral abutment construction.  New Armorless Bridge Joint Systems (S900 – SFP, manufactured by Silspec) were installed on the CSXT bridges utilizing sleeper slabs.  In addition, fiber optic ITS relocations were required to maintain operations for the US/Canadian border crossings during construction.

Highlights include:

• Railroad force account record keeping, bridge construction methods and procedures, earthwork inspection, and nuclear density testing
• Extensive coordination with CSX Railroad, NITTEC, Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge (Niagara Falls Bridge Commission), Canadian Customs & Border Protection, Niagara County, City of Niagara Falls, Town of Niagara, NYSDOT Regional ITS Coordinator, and NYSDOT Public Information Officer.
• Coordinate with NYSDEC to implement the SPDES general permit and the NYSDOT general standards and specifications for stormwater discharge and construction activities.

UrbanNY was part of the Design-Build team on one of the first Design-Build projects undertaken by the New York State Department of Transportation. As the Design Builder’s Independent Construction Inspection Professional Engineering Firm, UrbanNY provided all required oversight, direction, testing, reviews, and inspections to ensure that the construction and inspection activities complied with the Contract requirements.

This Design Build Project rehabilitated the bridges carrying Interstate 190 and NY Route 265 (Military Road) over the New York Power Authority (NYPA) Reservoir in Niagara and Lewiston in Niagara County. The project included the complete bridge superstructure replacements of 12 supported spans in each bridge with three- and four-span, galvanized steel plate girder superstructures made fully continuous with bolted splices and armorless joints. The girders support a conventionally reinforced isotropic deck with an integral wearing surface. The tops of the existing piers and abutments were removed and reconstructed, utilizing a stepped bridge seat to accommodate roadway cross slope. The approach slabs were also replaced, and a new guiderail was installed along Interstate 190 and NY Route 265. NY Route 265 was resurfaced between its intersections with NY Route 31 and NY Route 104. In addition, two 24” waterlines were replaced across the bridge, as well as numerous utility ducts.

Under an on-call contract with the NYC Department of Design and Construction (NYC DDC), UrbanNY provided design services for the $15M reconstruction of Henwood Place Step Street in The Bronx. A step street is a thoroughfare fitted with steps for pedestrian traffic rather than paved or tracked for motor vehicles. It is a practical way of providing access up and down a slope that is too steep for automobiles to navigate. In New York City, there are more than 100 steps across the city’s five boroughs. UrbanNY partnered with Nancy Owens Studio Landscape Architecture + Urban Design PLLC as the Landscape Architect for this 64-step project.

The Henwood Place Step Street project reconfigures the site’s staircases and landings, increasing its visibility as a step street and improving the pedestrian experience. The Henwood Place Step Street project is particularly important as it will provide ADA accessibility to a challenging project site for this neighborhood in The Bronx.

Urban is responsible for preliminary and final design, including a sustainability analysis through the Envision certification process. Services include project development, surveys, existing condition studies, research, and an Envision sustainability work plan. Urban provided three schematic designs to the NYCDOT and the community. The preliminary and final designs consist of retaining walls, drainage, street lighting, landscape, construction staging, maintenance of traffic, and estimates of quantities and costs. The final design will enhance the community and quality of life by providing attractive gathering points, improving accessibility, providing ADA access, increasing length line-of-site and lighting for security and decreasing stormwater runoff with natural landscaping.

Urban will provide inspection staff as required to inspect the project area and observe that all construction, materials, and equipment comply with the Contract Documents. The inspection will involve aspects directly or indirectly associated with the project. Urban will monitor the contractor’s progress schedules and provide assistance and recommendations to the contractor to control progress.

This project includes:

• Install temporary erosion and sediment control systems before disturbing any areas
• Clearing as necessary, excavation, and grading to construct a 10-foot-wide asphalt shared-use path
• Construction of swales and ditches, and installation of storm pipe and culverts for drainage
• Construction of abutments for assembly and installation of a prefabricated steel truss bridge.
• Construction of a short, multi-girder bridge
• Installation of railing systems for the trail, and the removal and replacement of a roadside guiderail
• Demolition and reconstruction of two retaining wall systems along Tonawanda Creek/Erie Canal at Tonawanda Creek Road and Sweet Home Road
• Reconstruction of the existing 10 FT wide trial
• Construction of three separate trial head parking lot areas
• Placement of trail amenities, including decorative concrete pads to accommodate benches and kiosks, interpretive sign panels, picnic tables, and bike racks
• Landscaping, including trees and shrubs, throughout the project length
• Construction of ADA accessible ramps and sidewalk replacement in Lockport, where the trial system is on-street
• Wayfinding, including trail signage,
• Pavement markings on the trail, at all public road crossings, and along the on-street trail section in Lockport

The $4 billion Delta Airfield Reconfiguration Program at LaGuardia Airport will provide a new 37-gate terminal, dual taxiways to reduce taxi time, larger gate areas with enhanced concessions, and more efficient airport roadways. Urban Engineers is the prime consultant providing construction management and inspection services for design-build parking garages, elevated roadways, utility infrastructure improvements, airfield modifications, demolition, and new terminal construction. We are coordinating construction activities with facility operations, monitoring permit compliance, and providing contract administration services.

The terminal will house four concourses connected by a centralized and streamlined check-in lobby, security checkpoint, and baggage claim. A new Delta Sky Club offering a deck with airfield views and other unique amenities will complement the terminal. Larger gate and seating areas as well as 30% more concessions is a dramatic improvement from existing facilities. The design integrates sustainable technologies and energy efficient features. The concourse housing gates 92 through 98 features floor-to-ceiling views of Citi Field and Flushing Bay

Construction of the steel frame for Delta’s new arrivals and departure terminal was completed in July 2020 and construction of the exterior curtain wall is currently underway.

Terminal construction is progressing 18 months ahead of schedule. Urban’s constructability review of maintenance and protection of traffic plans provided valuable recommendations that enabled the redesigned road network leading to the terminals to open six months ahead of schedule.

Urban is overseeing use of BIM for construction coordination, coordinating construction activities with facility operations, monitoring permit compliance, and performing contract administration services.

UrbanNY was selected by the City of Niagara Falls as the Prime consultant for this $3.2 million Federal Aid Locally Administered Project. Urban is providing design services for Design Phases I – VI. The project proposes to reconstruct approximately ½ mile of North Military Road in a dense urban residential area of Niagara Falls. Also included is the Mill and Overlay of approximately a 1-mile segment of Cayuga Drive. This section of Military Road is a two-lane asphalt roadway with granite curbs and a closed drainage system. The roadway surface is constantly being repaired (overlaid) due to a lack of proper base, sub-base, and drainage, and there is no curbing and a lack of sidewalks on the east side of the street. The roadway shows cracking, potholes, and utility repair restorations throughout, and the lack of proper pavement markings at the school crossing was dangerous.

UrbanNY designed a project that would correct the roadway’s integrity, improving the road’s structural and wearing surface to a condition rating of 10 for at least 15 years. Urban provided safer pedestrian (ADA crosswalks) and bicycle movement throughout the project length, including minor margin/sidewalk improvements. The project included new curbing and closed drainage to help extend the roadway’s life and eliminate stormwater ponding along the project length. Urban also coordinated with the Niagara Falls Water Board for water main replacement (betterment) to be included in this project.

Urban’s tasks involved preparing the design approval document (PSR/FDR), preliminary and final design plans, and specifications. The final plans, specifications, and engineer estimate were completed, and the project was submitted to construction bids in June 2023. Construction was completed in the fall of 2024, with Urban providing CM/CI services during construction.

UrbanNY was retained by the New York State Department of Transportation to perform Construction Management Services for the State’s first segmental accelerated Bridge Project.  The project requires the demolition and reconstruction of the NB and SB Interstate 190 Bridges over Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY.  The proposed single-span semi-integral abutment bridges will be constructed off-site in their entirety.  Special attention will be given to creating pre-determined segments so the bridge can be dismantled and shipped later.   Over 72 hours, the traffic on the I-190 will be diverted; at this time, the existing structure will be demolished, and the new superstructure segments will be lowered into place.  Precast Approach slabs, guide railing, and approach pavement will also be constructed within the 72-hour window as the Interstate must be reopened for rush hour traffic Monday Morning.

This project won the ABCD Western New York Chapters 2014 Bridge Award for projects over $2 million.