Large projects — especially those using alternative delivery methods — are becoming increasingly complex and more demanding. In this article, , �鶹TV��վ’ Northwest Business Leader, discusses how advancements in quality management technology can make a project run smoothly and improve outcomes.

One of our clients needed help managing a complex fish passage program with many variables. Highway culverts, designed to carry water under roads, often obstruct fish passage due to their height, insufficient depth or excessive water flow. Adding more layers of intricacy, each fish passage project is unique and requires evaluating existing conditions and collaborating with many stakeholders, in this case, Native Americans, state fish and wildlife departments and nearby property owners.

With so many moving parts, technology can help. And although technological advancement in construction has trailed other sectors, it’s gaining momentum. For this program, I recommended a tool called Smartsheet, a quality management platform �鶹TV��վ uses that offers real-time, actionable insights, enhancing transparency for all stakeholders by giving everyone access to all project-related documents.

One of Smartsheet’s standout features is its customizable, project-specific dashboard that provides clients and owners with view-only access, ensuring data integrity. This feature is especially beneficial for managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, allowing us to maintain control over data inputs while providing transparent access to project progress and documentation.

A peek at Smartsheet’s Quality Management Dashboard.

That transparency is paramount to our success. From the outset, we establish a robust quality management system, adapting to evolving needs during construction, making necessary updates and ensuring compliance with all standards. This positions the project or program as “audit ready.” By not missing any testing for statistical analysis, accepting all materials on site and maintaining all applicable documentation, we consistently pass audits with flying colors, reducing rework.

Digital tools such as Smartsheet allow us to execute progressive design-build projects efficiently, meeting accelerated timelines with precision. The tool has been invaluable on large alternative delivery projects where a standard quality management approach would surely fail. The potential for scaling Smartsheet across other projects and markets is immense. By establishing a standard platform, our quality management processes remain consistent, regardless of the project or client. This approach not only boosts efficiency but also strengthens our reputation for delivering high-quality, transparent and audit-ready projects.

The integration of Smartsheet into our project management processes at �鶹TV��վ has been transformative. By fostering transparency, enhancing efficiency and ensuring consistent quality, Smartsheet has helped position us as an industry leader. As we continue to innovate and refine our processes, the lessons learned from integrating Smartsheet will guide our future projects, ensuring that we consistently deliver exceptional results.

Don’t just keep pace with industry evolution — take charge! Contact us today to learn more about our industry-leading quality management program.

In honor of National Public Lands Day, we’re revisiting an infrastructure project that helps people access one of the wildest rivers in the world.

DEERLODGE PARK, Co. — Tucked at the opposite end of Dinosaur National Monument’s famous Quarry
Exhibit Hall, a fossil museum that received , lies a lesser-known yet equally
breathtaking attraction.

The Deerlodge Park Campground offers seven first-come, first-serve campsites for travelers to pitch a
tent among the towering cottonwoods of Colorado — and look up at the stars in .
However, most people only come here to enter the Yampa River.

Known for thwarting proposed on its waters (except a few minor diversions),
the Yampa remains the least-regulated tributary in the Colorado River Basin.

But extended summers are shortening the floating season. And because the flow of the river depends on how fast snow melts, are causing the Yampa to flood more intensely, straining vital infrastructure.

Bringing Resources to the Wild

As flooding continues to in the national register, Federal Land Management
Agencies (FLMAs) must augment their staffs to handle a backlog of transportation projects.
Enter the Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH).

Responsible for more than 30 percent of the nation’s land, including over 500,000 miles of roads, the
FLH serves to solve and manage challenges that are wide-ranging in environment, geography, and
complexity.

From building the Hoover Dam Bypass over the Colorado River Gorge to reconstructing Pennsylvania
Avenue in front of the White House, the FLH and partnered agencies pioneer some of the most unique
transportation projects in the country.

Prepare to Stop, Danger Ahead

The Deerlodge Park Campground periodically floods during Colorado’s spring snowmelt. After decades
of enduring, Deerlodge Road and its supporting infrastructure were
beginning to crumble.

The drainage system, which only received touch-ups since being installed in 1966, was failing under
heavier, unprecedented loads of water. Ten of the 93 culverts carrying runoff under the roadway had
severely eroded. Another two were past repair.

This contributed to subsurface instability that accelerated the pavement’s decline, especially in
designated parking areas.

Additionally, the that monument officials installed in 2003 was deteriorating, inching the Yampa
10 feet closer to the road every year, an environmental review found.

Dinosaur had an imminent riverbank failure on its hands — and 12.7 miles of roadway to mend.

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Mobilizing for Universal Access

In coordination with the National Park Service (NPS), the CFLHD proposed a $5.6-million restoration.
After receiving endorsement from the Department of Interior (DOI), the CFLHD deployed a taskforce to
the easternmost end of Dinosaur’s 211,000-acre expanse.

And in four months, a hybrid field crew:

• Installed exposed-rock riprap with a “launchable toe,” a stabilization measure that autocorrects
  through time, to armor the riverbank.
• Removed and resurfaced the existing 12.7 miles of pavement with a fresh layer of hot asphalt.
• Enhanced parking areas, including curb and gutter replacements, for better functionality.
• Applied cement treatment to pavement cavities to reinforce subgrade.
• Repaired, relocated, and added culverts to improve drainage flow.

From inception to completion, the project aligned with stringent quality standards and ecological
considerations, and �鶹TV��վ Technical Consultants was hired as the Construction Management leader for
the project.. Along with delivering construction management and field inspection services, �鶹TV��վ
provided a Technical Advisor (COTA), Construction Inspector (CI), and off-site project administrators to
ensure success.

Building the Foundation for Public Lands Work

Beyond serving a recreational purpose, Deerlodge Park Road enables biologists to care after critical
habitats. It allows park rangers to engage the next generation of conservationists through school
programs. And it grants private landowners total control of their properties.

If you’re interested in learning more about �鶹TV��վ’ services and FLH project experience, contact the
Project Manager Patrick Young, P.E. or Lee Kunselman P.E., PMP.

The new fire station in Decatur, Ga., is one of five being constructed as part of a county-wide infrastructure improvement program.

In 2017, voters in DeKalb County, Ga., overwhelmingly approved a one-cent sales tax increase to fund infrastructure improvements. As the last county in the Atlanta metro area to implement a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), residents were well aware of the positive impact these improvements could have on their communities. Expectations were high. “The public trusted us with this investment, and we had to deliver,” says Zach Williams, DeKalb County’s chief operating officer. “With our staff deep into the day-to-day operations of running the county, we knew we were going to need support to augment our staff and help us define and execute the projects we had identified.”

After conducting a qualification based selection process, county officials selected �鶹TV��վ Technical Consultants, a national provider of program management and construction management services. “They were simply the best fit. We were aware of their reputation based on their work on other SPLOSTs throughout the state. And they’ve done an outstanding job,” Williams says.

Since 2018, �鶹TV��վ has been supporting DeKalb County with a multidisciplinary team of designers, managers, schedulers, cost estimators, construction inspectors and administrative support personnel. The sixyear program is expected to result in $400 million in funding for projects such as safety and signal improvements, sidewalks and multi-use trails, updated public safety equipment and facilities, and capital improvements to parks, public clinics, senior centers and libraries. The largest investment is being directed toward resurfacing roadways throughout the county. “With four active paving contracts currently underway, the county is on pace to repave 100 miles of roadway this year. Prior to SPLOST, they only had the resources to see to 10 to 12 miles each year. It’s really been a success story, and all for just that extra penny,” says Chris Kingsbury, program manager for �鶹TV��վ.

On June 12, more than 200 residents and firefighters attended the grand opening of a new 􀀁re station in the southwest corner of the county– the first in almost a decade. The previous facility was constructed in 1953 and due for an overhaul, but it was not merely a brick-and-mortar improvement. “Chris and his team used these projects to not only modernize the structure but to modernize the way our firefighters carry out their duties. These are the people who are running into burning buildings and they deserve a clean, safe and welcoming environment. We’re also including community rooms in the new firehouses (a total of five will be built) to promote oneness with the community,” Williams says.

DeKalb County’s robust business community is also benefiting from the program. The 20% small business commitment included in the SPLOST agreement has been exceeded each year and mentorprotégé arrangements have been developed to provide valuable work experience to disadvantaged businesses.

For leaders in the county, it was important to use the program as a means of raising the profile of DeKalb, while also providing a higher quality of life for its residents. “It has given DeKalb County an opportunity to assert its place in the metro Atlanta area. We haven’t been able to invest in our infrastructure like other jurisdictions that have had SPLOSTs for decades. This has been a game-changer not only in how our county looks but also in giving our residents a reason to have faith in their government. And �鶹TV��վ has been a great partner in making that happen,” Williams says.

Communication and transparency have been keys to the program’s success. Using the county’s GIS system, project progress is updated and made available to the public. Residents can simply go to the county’s website, click on a penny icon and then enter their address to see a list of improvements that have been made in their neighborhood. An email hotline was set up where issues can be reported and complaints lodged, but the inbox has remained largely empty. “I think we’ve only had to respond to around five issues, which is just a testament to how the work is being delivered,” says Williams.

SPLOST programs are unique to the state of Georgia, the first was created in 1985, and �鶹TV��վ has become the go-to consultant for a majority of the programs in the Atlanta metro area, along with others throughout the state. �鶹TV��վ also does similar CIP development and administration work for public agencies around the country. “I don’t think of �鶹TV��վ as a consultant— they’re part of us,” Williams says “They have an office that’s closer to me than some of our department heads and we meet on a regular basis. You can definitely say they’re embedded in our staff, and that’s where we need them to be.”

Published by Engineering News-Record (ENR) – Environmental Management On July 1, 2023

ATLAS DULUTH, GA — When Felecia Basolo opens her dashboard, an onslaught of information overwhelms the screen.

“There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of people involved with federal aid,” she said. “I just try to keep all the chaos moving forward.”

As Deputy Program Manager of the initiative, Felecia facilitates core activities of federally funded transportation projects.

Responsible for reporting bottlenecks to the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Program Delivery Office, Felecia typically liaises with local agencies and municipalities on project deliverables to offset delays.

If Felecia’s team of project managers encounters potential setbacks, she intervenes to keep processes moving.

Yet the duration of federal aid projects largely depends on their complexity and can last five to 10 years.

“The majority of our work so far has involved bringing cities up to more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly standards,” she said. “Making downtown districts safer, road-widening projects, intersection improvements, that sort of thing.”

To keep pace, Felecia helps partner agencies walk through stringent federal requirements, as noncompliance by local parties remains a well-documented risk area.

“We provide support for various external entities in need. We often jump into unforeseen situations to support community staff, and other team members, because we understand that unique situations occur,” she said. “It’s based on community needs.”

But agency officials aren’t the only people Felecia advises.

Under , Felecia upskills GDOT personnel, too.

“After GDOT employees [and other clients] are onboarded, the learning begins. Our team is blessed with lots of experience, and that’s where our strength lies,” Felecia said. “We’re able to talk [new employees] through complex scenarios and show them how things work.”

Between former Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Engineer, Wright Aldridge, former GDOT Engineer, Mark Lawing, and others, the team holds more than 150 cumulative years of experience.

“There’s a built-in wealth there,” she said. “I can walk around the corner and talk to the person who implemented policies numerous times so that I can effectively communicate [policy] nuances to others.”

Still, each project poses its own set of distinct challenges. The majority of issues Felecia encounters are communication-based rather than technical.

“We learn from these types of hiccups, we can manage them easier whenever they come up again,” she said.

One particular lesson learned would’ve cost a project valuable time to rectify.

Felecia noticed that the Atlanta Police Department (APD) hadn’t been notified of a in downtown Atlanta. The project would conflict with adjacent security and traffic cameras.

“When we move the poles or do any work with the signalization, we have to account for how it may affect things like attached cameras and video cables,” she said. “They all exist on the same electric grid.”

Shortly after detecting the discrepancy, Felecia was able to connect the designer to APD and transfer information that led to a plan to mitigate the conflicts.

Felecia characterizes these lessons as invaluable.

“When things fall through and we learn what not to do, it’s actually more beneficial,” she said. “If we’re able to apply these lessons to upcoming projects, that’s a win.”

LAPs make up 20 percent of Georgia’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. FHWA data suggest that LAPs across 45 states will involve in federal aid within a couple of years.

Getting through intricate processes like environmental reviews and public comment periods tends to prolong new construction projects.

But with Felecia’s help, resource-limited agencies can access guidance to keep federally funded infrastructure plans moving.

“It goes beyond the pavement. The services we provide help bring amazing projects to fruition,” she said. “I’m just thankful I get to be a part of it.”

Felecia Basolo holds licenses in Project Management (PMP) and Professional Engineering (PE). She grew up in an Illinois town of 600 people, where she excelled in math, science, and physics at an early age. She was formerly with the Illinois Department of Transportation and began her career at �鶹TV��վ in 2006. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and went on to Brenau University to obtain a master’s in Business Administration.

The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct replacement project in Los Angeles will join the L.A. Arts District to Boyle Heights. The new bridge, to open later in 2022, replaces a 1932 structure that was retired due to seismic vulnerability and a rare chemical reaction in the cement supports. It is funded by the Federal Highway Transportation Administration and the California Dept. of Transportation, as well as city funds.

The new bridge, dubbed The Ribbon of Light, will include a 2,864‐ft‐long tied‐arch continuous concrete viaduct structure and a 193‐ft-long post‐tensioned, cast‐in‐place, reinforced concrete box girder structure at the west approach. Design was completed by HNTB and Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan. Construction is led by contractors Skanska Stacy and Witbeck.

�鶹TV��վ, through its acquired company Alta Vista Solutions, is providing quality management services, engineering assessment and evaluation for quality assurance and verification, materials engineering and investigations, structural steel inspection, testing and analysis, and source inspections.

“The project challenges have been significant,” says Bahjat Dagher, Project Manager with �鶹TV��վ. Downtown traffic, dealing with Los Angeles River challenges, working over and under active rail lines operated by five agencies, and managing identified and unidentified utility conflicts top the list. Alta Vista Solutions, an �鶹TV��վ company, has provided continuous support to the City of Los Angeles since 2017 dealing with typical and atypical construction, fabrication, and erection adversity. “We are grateful for the opportunity to provide our services that contribute to this first-class, high-quality structure that we can be proud of for generations to come” says Mr. Dagher.

“We have traveled to remote areas in California, as well as to states like Arizona, Utah, Ohio, Oregon, Missouri, and even Canada to perform source inspection and ensure the high standards of quality are met during fabrication. Our team of specialists help ensure that fabrication processes, welding, coating, material documentation, nondestructive testing and personnel certifications comply with contract requirements. Additionally, the team performs oversight assessment and verification of in-process quality control (QC) testing,” says Mr. Dagher. In addition, �鶹TV��վ, through Alta Vista Solutions, provided batch plant inspections, field inspections and materials testing for the structural concrete which included the helical ramp and the ten pairs of unique arches. These remarkable features are what will make the Sixth Street Viaduct an iconic piece of the LA skyline.

Published by Engineering News-Record (ENR)
On July 18, 2022