SUE Archives

IH 45 and SH 6 Water Distribution System Improvements

IH 45 and SH 6 Water Distribution System Improvements Galveston County, Texas DCCM provided preliminary and final design and construction-phase services for 8,100 linear feet of 24-inch water line as part of a collaboration between the Galveston County Water Authority and Galveston County to provide potable water to a future residential area in Texas City. To accommodate this needed water line, an alignment was established at the intersection of Avenue L and a Galveston County Water Authority canal in Santa Fe, where the line connected to an existing water line and then extended along the north high bank of the canal to a metering station site west of IH 45. This project was funded by the State of Texas through a Community Development Block Grant and administered by the Texas General Land Office due to damage from Hurricane Ike. The funding was allocated to Galveston County, thereby funding the construction and managing the design and construction phases. At a Glance 8,100 Linear Feet 24-inch Water Line $1.8 million Csontruction Cost Markets Municipal Services Utilities Water & Wastewater

Cedarspur Drive, Burkhart Road, and Winningham Lane Improvements

Cedarspur Drive, Burkhart Road, and Winningham Lane Improvements Spring Valley Village, Texas DCCM provided the preliminary engineering report, design, survey, and SUE QL-C and D for road paving and utility improvements in three separate areas of the City of Spring Valley Village. The project encompassed the reconstruction of Cedarspur Drive, Burkhart Road, and Winningham Lane East, totaling 2,200 linear feet. It included replacing 6,400 square yards of concrete roadway and driveways, water line, and sanitary improvements. Additional services included attending pre-bid meetings, bid evaluation, and award recommendation. DCCM also attended a preconstruction conference, reviewed shop drawings and requests for information, performed site visits as specified by the client, and provided record drawings. The design of the TCP was challenging because the project consisted of three streets with dead ends, requiring us to maintain two-way traffic while rebuilding a two-lane roadway. We limited work zones to 400 linear feet at a time to make it easier for residents traveling to and from their homes. Ongoing flagging and coordination with residents was imperative for a smooth project. DCCM coordinated closely with the City of Spring Valley Village, the contractor, and affected homeowners to provide a seamless design and construction experience. Homeowners were notified of the schedules, including the start and end times for work on their street. Homeowners were also encouraged to notify the city, the contractor, or the engineer if there were any issues. The project went smoothly with minimal issues. At a Glance 2,200 Linear Feet 6,400 Square Yards of Concrete $1.34 million Construction Cost Markets Municipal Surveying Transportation Services Surveying Transportation Utilities Water & Wastewater

SH 288 Bridge Improvements

SH 288 Bridge Improvements Brazoria County, Texas TxDOT awarded a statewide indefinite deliverable contract for bridge engineering to DCCM for bridge engineering services. For work authorization No. 1, DCCM was awarded a project in Brazoria County to prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for bridges at three intersections along SH 288. The project required the design of new overpass structures at the intersections of SH 288 with CR 57 and CR 64, the widening of an existing structure at SH 288 and CR 56, and two frontage-road creek-crossing bridges. The structural designs ranged from TxDOT-standard multi-column TxGirders for stream crossings to green ribbon overpasses with U-beams and inverted tees with skews, to modified details with TxGirders. The designs addressed utility conflicts, wetland and stream impacts, skewing, and embankment settlement mitigation. We provided bridge layout plan sheets for each bridge and a comparative cost analysis. The team set bridge spans and limits to achieve optimal beam design and vertical clearance. CR 57 Constructed new location CR 57 cross-street bridge (DCCM) Added ramps Added auxiliary lanes Constructed two frontage road bridges CR 64 Constructed new location CR 64 cross-street bridge (DCCM) Added ramps Added auxiliary lanes CR 56 Widened the existing CR 56 bridge (another consultant) Added frontage roads Added auxiliary lanes Design aspects of the project included surveying, geotechnical engineering, bridge design, roadway design, drainage, environmental engineering, and subsurface utility engineering. As the prime provider of the project, DCCM held an e-mail version of the design concept conference before the 30% submittal. The project milestones were 30%, 60%, 90%, 95%, 100%, and the final milestone. DCCM’s engineers coordinated closely with the adjacent segment engineers to assure continuity of design across segment lines. DCCM presented several typical section options to TxDOT prior to beginning the design to ensure TxDOT’s needs were prioritized. The chosen roadway section included a 16-foot median, four 12-foot lanes, two 12-foot shoulders, and a 5-foot, 6-inch sidewalk with C223 rail. The overall roadway width is 103 feet. The project included converting two-way frontage roads to one-way operations. The team used Atlas 14 to determine the floodplain width for the frontage road bridges over West Fork Chocolate Bayou at CR 5. At a Glance $57.2 million Project Cost Markets Transportation Services Transportation

FM 1097 Widening, Segments 1, 2, 3

FM 1097 Widening, Segments 1, 2, and 3 Montgomery County, Texas This project was a joint effort between Montgomery County and TxDOT. It involved widening an existing two-lane road with a dedicated left-turn lane into a four-lane road with a dedicated left-turn lane. DCCM was responsible for identifying utilities, coordinating design, reviewing permits and utility agreements, and overseeing relocation. Utility adjustments were needed for all utilities due to most right-of-way being taken on one side, and DCCM worked closely with right-of-way to prioritize parcel acquisitions so utilities could complete adjustments without delays. Utilities included Entergy, Kinder Morgan pipeline, CenterPoint Energy, numerous telecommunication lines, and the City of Willis water and wastewater. DCCM worked with the design team to mitigate utility conflicts that could be costly or require long lead times for adjustments. Our team set up several utility workshops among the roadway design team, the utility owner, and the construction area office to work through the details to protect the pipeline in place and avoid a costly relocation. Other coordination efforts included working with the design team on traffic control phasing to give utilities more time for adjustments while allowing the roadway contractor to continue working without delay. At a Glance $325,000 Project Cost $48 million Construction Cost Markets Power Services Utilities

Avenue S Rehabilitation

Avenue S Rehabilitation Galveston County DCCM provided the design of 8,600 linear feet of roadway reconstruction along Avenue S from 53rd Street to Seawall Boulevard. The paving cross-section comprised two travel lanes with two outside parking areas. The project design included replacing 8,900 linear feet of water line, including branches and intersections along the route, crossing intersections that were previously reconstructed for other concurrent projects. Additionally, a 15-inch sanitary sewer was replaced, stretching from 35th Street to 33rd Street, including branches and intersections. Our assessment of the drainage system along the corridor and side streets enabled us to determine the most effective methods for enhancing drainage efficiency while removing bridge blocks. The flat terrain of Galveston provided grading challenges, and with our detailed 3D grading abilities, the shallow underground storm system had the proper cover under the road and for some instances where standard cover was not achievable, it was discovered and known during the design or it was identified during construction and the design remedies were ready before construction was delayed. Our subconsultants performed geotechnical, surveying, SUE, environmental, and inspection services for the project. DCCM provided construction phase services for the City of Galveston and collaborated with the contractor to ensure the design intent was effectively implemented. The final product of the road was excellent, and the contractor successfully constructed the road and storm sewer system with minimal RFIs and minor adjustments to the road, sidewalks, and storm sewer system grading. All meetings were accompanied by a well-organized agenda and meeting minutes, which included detailed action items to be completed by the next meeting. This attention to detail and accountability helped lead the project to a successful completion and limited citizen complaints. Surveying Services DCCM supported land surveying services for 2.5 miles of Avenue S from 53rd Street east to Seawall Boulevard Drive. Tasks included right-of-way (ROW) determinations, topographic surveying, and subsurface utility surveying to support engineering design. The project included a full-depth replacement of existing pavement and utilities, including water lines and subsurface sanitary and storm sewer systems. Approximately 275 parcels were abstracted to support ROW determinations and graphically depict property ownership. Survey control was established, including ground targets for aerial triangulation of UAS/drone imagery acquired by a subconsultant. Lidar data was also collected, post-processed, and delivered to us for analysis and integration into our survey. Supplemental ground surveying was performed to support the validation of the imagery and lidar data. Final deliverables included 3D mapping in Civil 3D format and rectified orthomosaic imagery of the project extents. SUE Services DCCM provided SUE services along 8,600 linear feet of water and sanitary sewer line from Avenue S from 53rd Street to Seawall Boulevard. The SUE QL-B designation revealed more than 56,000 feet of utilities in that area. As in all SUE projects, the utility mainlines were designated. This project was unusual because all utility services were also designated so that the designers would have substantial utility information and the best chance to protect the utilities in place—this required electronically traceable duct runners, fish tapes, and electromagnetic sweeping. At a Glance $9.25 million Construction Cost $146,000 Survey Cost 86,000 Linear Feet of Sanitary Sewer Line 56,000 Feet of Utilities Markets Transportation Surveying Services Transportation Program Management Surveying Utilities Water & Wastewater

Cedar Bayou Crossing Corridor Study

Cedar Bayou Crossing Corridor Study Harris County and Baytown, Texas DCCM was selected to provide professional services for the proposed Cedar Bayou crossing. The crossing will serve as a critical link for the City of Baytown to ensure the orderly development of the northern part of the city and provide necessary east-to-west mobility to supplement IH 10. The project area was from Hunt Road at Main Street to Kilgore Parkway at SH 146. DCCM provided project management, data collection, existing condition evaluation, alternative analysis, community outreach support, preliminary engineering, geotechnical investigation, subsurface utility engineering, survey, and an environmental analysis. DCCM conducted a corridor study to identify alignment alternatives and assess the project’s feasibility. The study included several aspects to consider and required sufficient information to measure and evaluate a range of viable improvement options. The traffic analysis reviewed traffic and crash data, existing roadways, traffic flow patterns, traffic counts, turning movement counts, and transit and traffic operations. The DCCM team conducted capacity analyses for designated locations and sections of roadways and made recommendations to improve traffic flow. DCCM provided hydrology and hydraulics (H&H) to support the corridor layout of the proposed roadway. This task used the latest Mapping, Assessment, and Awareness project (MAAPNEXT) models for Cedar Bayou as developed by the Harris County Flood Control District. DCCM also provided community outreach, public meetings, and City Council meetings. The project concluded with identifying recommended improvements, preliminary plans with several alternatives and their estimated costs, and a preferred alignment. Surveying Services DCCM performed professional surveying services to obtain and review existing lidar data and the limited preliminary ground survey data for the Cedar Bayou Corridor Study. The project spanned 3.7 miles from North Main Street, 3,300 feet south of IH 10 (west tie-in point), to the intersection of SH 146 and Kilgore Parkway (east tie-in point). The latest available lidar data published from USACE and Texas Natural Resources Information System covering the project area to evaluate and perform the following tasks: Data sets were extracted/downloaded into Esri ArcGIS (Pro+3D Analyst tool) and Context Capture/OpenRoads Cross-data checks were performed against public datasets from TxDOT, the City of Baytown, Harris County, and other available online resources. The MicroStation DGN deliverable included: DEM 2D building/structure footprints Roads, highways, and railroads Overhead transmission lines Other visible features within the lidar data Limited field surveying was performed. Field surveying tasks included setting four project control points, performing limited topographic surveying along North Main Street (1,000 feet north and south of the west tie-in point) and SH 146 (500 feet north and south of the west tie-in), and obtaining cross sections along the existing railroad running through the project. Field surveying also included determining the elevations of the existing railroad running at the railroad bridge over SH 146 and confirming (spot-checking) the lidar data in several accessible areas. The survey data was based on the NAD 83, Texas Coordinate System, South Central Zone (4204) CORS adjustment. Elevations were based on the NAVD 88 2001 adjustment relative to the lidar data. The survey information was provided in MicroStation Select Series 10. At a Glance 3.7 Miles $140 million Construction Cost Markets Transportation Surveying Services Transportation Surveying Utilities Water & Wastewater

Aerial view looking straight down at a multilane highway with a new crosswalk intersecting both directions of travel lanes

FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway) Improvements

FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway) Improvements College Station, Texas The FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway) project in College Station is a story of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. DCCM led the team that worked closely with the City of College Station, TxDOT, Texas A&M University, and Easterwood Airport to address the region’s rapid growth and evolving transportation needs. Our journey began with a comprehensive corridor study and traffic analysis, which revealed that traditional intersection designs would not provide the necessary capacity or operational improvements. In response, we expanded our analysis to include six additional alternatives and ultimately selected an innovative “superstreet” (Restricted Crossing U-turn) design. This approach reduced signal phases at intersections, improved traffic flow, and provided flexibility for future upgrades to a controlled access facility. Our scope included data collection, accident and traffic analysis, environmental documentation, public involvement, identification of right-of-way (ROW) and easements, utility coordination, and topographic surveying. We also managed a team of eight subconsultants for specialized analyses and design tasks. We completed both the schematic and PS&E phases for FM 2818, developing a geometric design schematic from Wellborn Road to F&B Road, and seamlessly transitioning into detailed construction documents. The final schematic design was coordinated with the parallel PS&E design team, enabling construction documents to reach 60% design before schematic finalization. This efficient transition was made possible by keeping most of the same key staff and maintaining a strong project management plan throughout both phases. One of the most significant challenges was the presence of a major underground electric duct bank that conflicted with the proposed curb line and storm sewers. By conducting precise SUE QL-A potholing and collaborating with the city and TxDOT, we developed a solution that allowed the duct bank to remain in place while relocating the storm sewer, avoiding major disruptions and keeping the project on schedule. Another challenge arose when a new overpass at Jones-Butler Road was added late in the design process. Our team quickly adapted, revising schedules and resources to incorporate the new structure without impacting the letting date. Environmental considerations were also paramount. White Creek, which runs parallel to the corridor, required careful coordination to minimize impacts to the floodplain and wetlands. Through detailed grading, innovative barrier design, and close collaboration with regulatory agencies, we kept wetland impacts below permitting thresholds and avoided additional ROW acquisition. The FM 2818 project is now under construction. The result is a safer, more efficient, and future-ready corridor that supports the continued growth of College Station and the surrounding community. Traffic Analysis/Corridor Study Services DCCM performed a corridor study for FM 2818 from George Bush Drive to Wellborn Road. The study examined various alternatives, including many different intersection configurations. Ultimately, the conventional intersection designs failed to provide adequate operations. As a result, the superstreet concept was proposed and evaluated as a potential solution for the corridor. This provided the opportunity to reduce signal phases at intersections while maintaining the flexibility to upgrade the corridor to a controlled-access facility in the future should the need arise. Responsiveness: The original scope included an analysis of three options for access management along the corridor, none of which provided adequate capacity. To keep the project on schedule, the DCCM team worked with the City of College Station and TxDOT to identify and analyze six more options before the change order was processed. The innovative intersection used in the final design was one of these six additional options. Surveying Services During the S&E phase, DCCM provided a comprehensive topographic survey on this City of College Station/TxDOT street design project. The route was a 1.8-mile section of the existing state highway roadway. The extra width of the ROW created an unusually large, 80-acre project area, with several acres of native trees and brush. Using baseline survey points and information from the early 1970s, the ROW lines were accurately fitted to the topographic survey. Additionally, Baseline | DCCM had surveyed utility easements along the highway over 15 years prior, before any of the adjoining apartment complexes were developed. Schematic Design Services DCCM developed a geometric design schematic for FM 2818 from Wellborn Road to George Bush Drive. The project scope included conceptual and schematic design, data collection, accident and traffic analysis, conceptual design, schematic design, environmental documentation, public involvement, ROW/easement identification, utility coordination, project management, and topographic surveying. The initial scope included analyzing three design-year alternatives, developing a conceptual schematic for each, and developing the selected alternative through schematic design. Based on the results of the traffic analysis/conceptual design and meetings with City of College Station and TxDOT staff, it was determined that the three design-year alternatives would not adequately address growth issues along the project corridor; therefore, six additional alternatives were analyzed. Based on the traffic analysis and input from the City and TxDOT, a “super street” option was selected and developed through schematic design. SUE Services Under the SUE department’s TxDOT contract, the Bryan District requested that SUE QL-B designation be performed for their 3.2-mile FM 2818 Improvement project. More than 265,000 linear feet of utilities were identified on the project, resulting in a utility map that revealed numerous critical conflicts with the proposed roadway improvements. The designers and utility coordinators asked for 24 SUE QL-A test holes. All test holes were completed, the SUE QL-B designation and the conflicts it revealed were validated, and the designation was assigned. An additional SUE QL-B was requested for the downside streets to fully understand the utility impact. This project faced challenges, including complex traffic control and Texas A&M mowing the TxDOT ROW before each home football game. It was critical to complete the survey work each week before the Friday afternoon mowers arrived. At a Glance 40% Reduction in Corridor Travel Times $57.6 million Construction Cost Markets Transportation Environmental Services Transportation Surveying Utilities

SH 249 (Tomball Tollway), Phases I and II

SH 249 (Tomball Tollway), Phases I and II Tomball and Montgomery County, Texas DCCM was contracted by the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) as the Program Management Consultant (PMC) for the design and management of both preliminary and final project designs, as well as construction management and inspection services for Phase II. We developed a project feasibility assessment, which resulted in the SH 249 (Tomball Tollway), Phases I and II engineering feasibility report, and served as the basis for the final design. On its first day of operation, eager toll users doubled the projected 17,000 daily toll transactions, cutting traffic on the existing frontage road in half. Funded entirely with toll road revenue paid by drivers who choose to use the Harris County toll road system, the final construction will extend the toll road into Montgomery and Grimes Counties to SH 105, streamlining trips to and from rapidly growing Grimes County and College Station. Phase I: Spring Cypress Road to FM 2920 This project provided travelers with four main lanes in each direction and was constructed between the existing TxDOT northbound and southbound non-tolled frontage roads. As PMC for HCTRA, DCCM completed an aggressive 9-month design program to deliver plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for HCTRA to bid and construct this phase. DCCM provided leadership, schedule adherence, quality assurance, and oversight to 17 consultants, completing the PS&E for four new toll lanes in each direction along a 6-mile stretch of SH 249, adding five new bridges, retaining walls, and a drainage system that mitigates flooding. Drivers may now bypass seven stoplights while the frontage roads remain toll-free. All milestone submittals were met on time, and the project was constructed in only 16 months and under three construction contracts. Phase I was open to traffic in April 2015 and is exceeding all revenue forecasts. Phase II: FM 2920 to Spring Creek (Harris/Montgomery County line) Design preparations for Phase II began in October 2014 with design revisions to the TxDOT 2006 SH 249 Schematic. As in Phase I, DCCM was the PMC for the design of four-lane toll lanes in each direction, adding three-lane frontage roads on both north- and southbound approaches, five major bridges, flood-mitigating storm sewer detention, a collegiate practice field, and equestrian and bike trails. Services also included computing cut-and-fill quantities for roadway sections, concrete and reinforcement steel quantities for bridge deck pours, and payments for such pours on the contractor’s pay estimate. DCCM monitored the roadway excavation, subgrade preparation, concrete milling, embankment placement for abutments, installation of drill shaft and foundations, concrete beam placement, asphalt pavement placement, bent footings, column, cap pours, reinforced earth walls, 18- to 36-inch reinforced concrete pipes, and various concrete box culverts. Our team oversaw construction management and inspection services for this segment of the project. Phases I and II of the SH 249 (Tomball Tollway) project included environmental investigations and permitting, survey/ROW mapping, utility identification and assessment, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), and hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling and detention pond design. DCCM also provided construction phase services for Phase II and the direct connectors at SH 99 (Grand Parkway). Mainlanes, Phase I, Section 1 – Montgomery County MCTRA selected DCCM to prepare PS&E for mainlane and ramp construction for a 0.4-mile section of tollway north of Tomball, Texas. The project scope included roadway geometric design, traffic control plans, removal plans, drainage plans with both open and closed systems, SWPPP, cross-sections, general notes, specifications, and construction cost estimates. The DCCM team coordinated with both adjacent designers on the Montgomery County segment and with the design and construction teams of the Harris County segment to the south to deliver a synchronized product that minimized impacts to travelers and adjacent property owners and reduced overall project costs. At a Glance $101 million Phase I Construction Cost $99 million Phase II Construction Cost Markets Transportation Services Transportation Utilities Surveying Water & Wastewater

IH 45 South Expansion

IH 45 South Expansion Galveston County, Texas The expansion of IH 45 South in Galveston County was designed to widen the interstate and improve mobility in a region that has seen continuous growth in recent years. DCCM provided utility relocation and inspection (including water line, communication cable, and gas line), grading, concrete pavement, asphalt-stabilized base, cement- and lime-treated base/subgrade, bridge structures, storm sewer, and detentions. Construction of the widening of a freeway facility included grading, concrete pavement, asphalt-stabilized base, cement-treated base, lime-treated subgrade, asphalt concrete pavement, bridge structures, storm sewers, detention ponds, retaining walls, signing, pavement markings, traffic signals, continuous lighting, and a traffic management system. DCCM was selected to perform utility coordination, subsurface utility engineering, and utility inspection for the entire project. DCCM provided utility coordination and relocation for Frontier, AT&T, Comcast, CenterPoint Energy gas, Texas-New Mexico Power, and Phonoscope. DCCM performed subsurface utility engineering to identify the existing 39-inch encased water line (City of League City) that hindered the construction of the drilled shaft and stone columns along abutment No. 1 on the SH 96 bridge widening. TxDOT also entrusted DCCM with reviewing and approving permit applications for the entire project’s proposed relocation. At a Glance $101.7 million Project Cost Markets Transportation Services Transportation

SUE

Turn your vision into a reality.