Transportation

June 29, 1956, marked the day federal legislation was signed to begin one of the biggest engineering projects ever undertaken, the U.S. Interstate Highway System. The longest Interstate highway is Interstate 90, which runs 3,099 miles between Boston, Massachusetts and Seattle, Washington. In the US there are approximately 55,512 bridges and 82 tunnels.

With decades of engineering sciences on our roadways many concepts have changed and evolved, even becoming more Òenvironmentally friendlyÓ. For example, rubberized asphalt -it is smoother and quieter and helps eliminate a major landfill problem Ð used tires.

The material consists of regular asphalt paving mixed with ground, used tires. Approx. 1,500 tires per lane are used for every mile of rubberized asphalt paving overlay applied at a depth of approx. one inch. In addition, its use reduces as much as 50 percent in freeway noise which translates to noise readings decreasing an average of 4 decibels or more, a huge benefit considering the increase of houses being built closer and closer to freeways.

The safe and economical design of transportation facilities depends on an understanding of soil and rock behavior and, accordingly, properly designed and built subgrades and foundations.

A Geotechnical/Geologic Investigation will provide the information necessary for the proper design. This will typically include a subsurface investigation, by the drilling of borings or excavation of test pits, to determine the subsurface soil conditions, depth to groundwater, and to obtain soil samples for laboratory testing.

Other techniques, such as trenching to determine the presence or absence of faults within the Earthquake Fault Zones, Cone Penetrometer Testing for liquefaction analyses and seismic refraction survey for the rippability of bedrock, are performed as needed.

Laboratory testing of the site soils and analyses of the field and laboratory data are used to prepare a report describing the site conditions and recommendations to mitigate the site constraints.

Converse professionals are specifically trained in soil mechanics and foundation engineering, enabling us to provide foundation design recommendations, lateral pressure analysis, construction monitoring, ground improvement design, and slope stability analyses and are familiar with local district requirements.

Project: COLORADO RIVER BRIDGE, HOOVER DAM BYPASS
Location: Henderson, Nevada

The Hoover Dam Bypass project is clearly one of the most amazing and challenging project of our time, both from an engineering and a construction standpoint. For decades, the project has been conceptualized as a means of relieving serious traffic congestion on U.S. 93, which currently runs over the crest of the historic Hoover Dam. Construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project began in 2003. Due to the magnitude of the project, it is being constructed in four distinct phases: the Arizona Approach, the Nevada Approach, the Colorado River Bridge and the final roadway surfacing of over one million cubic yards of embankment, six concrete bridge structures and 17 miles of asphalt concrete pavement

Project: I-215/I-515 INTERCHANGE LOAD TESTS
Location: Henderson, Nevada

This project consisted of full-scale axial load testing of drilled shaft foundations for the I-215/I-515 Interchange Project in Henderson, Nevada. The drilled shafts load tests were performed using the Osterberg Load Cell method on a 5-foot diameter drilled shaft in clay soils and on a 6-foot diameter drilled shaft in granular soils.

Converse coordinated the installation and testing of the drilled shaft foundations including selecting test locations, performing field drilling and sampling and laboratory testing of soils prior to construction, and providing construction observation, inspection, and material testing services during construction. After the tests were performed, Converse analyzed the results of the tests to develop methods for assessing axial drilled shaft foundation capacities for design of drilled shafts for the project.

Project: RECONSTRUCTION OF 6 BRIDGES OVER NYCT, LIRR
Location: Brooklyn, New York

• Congress Street Bridge over BQE: the existing two-span superstructure will be removed and replaced with a new two-span structure consisting of composite reinforced concrete deck and steel stringer system.
• Lincoln Road Bridge over BQE: The existing four span structures will be removed and replaced with a single span steel bridge with integral abutments built behind the existing abutments.
• Seeley Street Bridge over Prospect Avenue: Rehabilitation of the existing single span arch bridge.
• East 3rd over LIRR: the existing single span, simply supported, concrete encased, steel stringer bridge will be replaced with a new steel structure.
• 52nd Street Bridge over LIRR: the existing two-span simply supported, concrete encased, steel stringer bridge will be replaced with a new steel stringer single span.
• 19th Avenue Bridge over NYCT: the existing 4-span monolithic rigid reinforced concrete frame arch structure will be replaced with new steel stringers and a concrete deck.

Project: ROUTE 35 (SECTION 12T) VICTORY BRIDGE
Location: PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY

The project begins in the City of South Amboy, continues north over the Raritan River on Victory Bridge, and ends in the City of Perth Amboy. The proposed 16-span Victory Bridge will have an approximate length of 1225m (4020 ft) and a height of 36.6m (120 ft) above the Raritan River.

Project: Fanny Road Bridge over NJ Transit
Location: Boonton New Jersey

The proposed bridge construction consists of replacement of the Fanny Road Bridge over NJ Transit Boonton Line in the Township of Boonton, Morris County. The project also included the construction of four retaining walls, widening of the approach roadways, and the construction of new piers and abutments.

The proposed bridge is approximately 50 meters long, 12 meters wide and is a two span structure. Four retaining walls, two on the south approach roadway and two on the north approach roadways are proposed. The south approach roadway is approximately 187 meters long and the north approach roadway is approximately 85 meters long. Roadways are anticipated to be widened in both directions by approximately 2 to 3 meters.

Project: HIGHTSTOWN BYPASS- HIGHTSTOWN
Location: NEW JERSEY

The project consists of seven bridges on the proposed Hightstown Bypass Route 133 section 1A.

Project: ORANGE STREET BRIDGE, REDLANDS, CA
Location: Redlands, CA

The crossing of the Santa Ana River at Orange Street was washed out in 1993 and again in 1995. The original crossing at Orange Street consisted of a steel girder bridge with a concrete deck; This original structure was replaced with concrete box culverts at the Orange Street crossing. The City of Redlands plans to replace the existing facility with 100 meters long, 20 meters wide bridge. It includes 3 spans, 4 lanes and approximately 124 meters of approach lane length. Converse drilled 6 borings to depths between 40 and 60 feet. Geotechnical laboratory tests were performed to determine the engineering properties of the site soils. Engineering analyses of the laboratory and field data was performed. A comprehensive geotechnical report was prepared including detailed seismic analyses, scour analysis, pile design and construction recommendations, groundwater recommendations, oversized materials mitigation and general grading and construction recommendations.

Project: ALABAMA STREET BRIDGE
Location: REDLANDS, CA

Project: HWY 71 ON/OFF RAMP
Location: Pomona, CA

Project: STATE HIGHWAY 79 IMPROVEMENTS
Location: Beaumont, CA

This Project involved a seven-mile widening of a two-lane road, including some straightening of the highway from Beaumont to Gilman Hot Springs, CA. Converse provided comprehensive geotechnical services for the widening and re-alignment of Lamb Canyon/Route 79. Services included detailed geologic mapping, surface exploration, seismic evaluations, rock coring, scour evaluation, and more than 50 borings. Cut slopes more than 200 feet high were analyzed for stability. Field density tests were performed in accordance with Caltrans Test Method 216/231. Laboratory soil testing was performed in accordance with Caltrans Test Method 201/202 and 217. Concrete testing included Caltrans Test Methods 504, 518, 539, and 540. Asphalt testing included Caltrans Test Methods 310,375, 201/202, and 366.

Railways and Tunnels

Rail transportation in the United States carries millions of people and billions of tons of cargo each year. Whether transporting products from manufacturer to market, or a commuter from suburb to city center, rail transportation is an economical and environmentally sound option for moving people and goods. Municipalities, government agencies, and companies need a variety of engineering, technical and management solutions designed to fit the broad spectrum of their transportation needs.

For decades, Converse has provided freight and passenger railroads and urban mass transit agencies our specialized expertise in transportation structures, including terminals, stations, parking facilities, bridges and tunnels.

Project: North Hollywood Tunnel and Crossover Structure
Location: Los Angeles, CA (North Hollywood)
Project Description and Scope of Service:
The crossover was be constructed by cut-and-cover methods and extend up to 60 feet below the ground surface. The tunnel was be a twin-bore 20-foot-diameter excavation, almost entirely in alluvial deposits, except for the first 1,000 feet leaving Universal City Station. The tunnel alignment is under the Ventura Freeway.

Project: MacArthur Park Lake Tunnel Crossing
Location: Los Angeles, CA (MacArthur Park)
Project Description and Scope of Service:
Converse conducted the geoÂlogic evaluation of soft clay and silt lake deposits underlain by soft-ground Puente siltstone and claystone bedrock. The investigation was performed to determine whether this should be cut-and-cover or simply normal tunneling with the lake drained. The cut-and-cover box structure was evaluated for hydrostatic uplift forces.

Airports

American planes take off 8.5 million times per year Ð almost half the number of takeoffs world wide. With the volume of air travel in the United States, it is vital to maintain and upgrade our airports nationwide.

Converse has provided services to airports and military installations throughout the U.S. Our projects have involved various facilities, from small general aviation airports to large hub international airports.

Project: AIR CARGO FACILITY-JOHN F. KENNEDY AIRPORT
Location: Queens, NY

The project consisted of construction of a one-story (520' x 275') air cargo facility and new aprons at JFK Airport in Queens, NY

Project: ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT
Location: Caldwell, NJ
Project Description and Scope of Service:
The Essex County Airport project consisted of the pavement design for approximately 2700 feet of new taxi lane and approximately 5 acres of aircraft parking space. The investigation and pavement designs were performed in accordance with current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) design standards.

Project: NEW AIRCRAFT HANGARS-MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE
Location: Wrightstown, New Jersey
Project Description and Scope of Service:
The project consisted of new hangars with a combined footprint of 100,000 square feet at McGuire Air Force Base in Wrightstown, New Jersey.

Project: MCCARRAN AIRPORT
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada 89111-1005

Project Description and Scope of Service:
The project consisted of a 2,500' long, 8-lane roadway under the main runways at McCarran International Airport. Construction method alternative chosen for the new tunnel was cut-and-cover.