Increasing global demand, changing regulations, and erratic weather patterns are just a few of the issues energy firms need to juggle these days. We can’t help with the weather, but BLA can offer a single source for a wide range of services you can count on to make projects run smoothly and seamlessly.
|
- Structural Engineering
- Bridge Inspection for Oversized Permit Vehicles Carrying Super-Loads, Mt. Vernon to Edwardsport, Indiana
Client: Bigge Crane & Rigging
Inspected select bridges along the route for special permit vehicles that haul multiple oversized super-loads from Mt. Vernon, Indiana to the new Duke Energy facility in Edwardsport. Loads vary from 500,000–9,800,000 pounds. The inspection process includes evaluating the bridge prior to, during, and immediately following the load. Precise measurements using survey equipment measure deflection and rebound effects per INDOT permit requirements.
- Underground Coal Conveyance System, Princeton, Indiana
Client: Peabody Coal
 After conducting a study to determine how best to transport coal from the mines to nearby rail, design of a large box-culvert housing a conveyor installed using an open-cut was determined to be the best solution. The need to cross a major freeway, however, required innovative traffic plan and fast-track construction phasing to keep 2 lanes open at all times and complete work within the limited time allowed by INDOT. This project received awards from the American Consulting Engineers Council and the National Precast Concrete Association.
Permitting- Coal Mine Driveway Permit, Petersburg, Indiana
Development of a commercial drive permit for the modification of an existing roadway crossing SR 61 for use of oversized coal haul trucks. The existing drive crossing was originally developed as a maintenance road adjacent to conveyor belt system which has been removed. The new oversized trucks create the need for additional intersection and decision sight distance to accommodate the longer vehicle lengths. Evaluation of the existing pavement condition and development of a heavy duty pavement design to accommodate the 100 ton haul trucks was also included in this project.
- Electrical Generating Plant Permitting, Posey County, Indiana
Secured Construction in a Floodway permit from the IDNR for the construction of the new enclosed conveyor belt for transporting dry fly ash from the plant-to-barge loading facility on the Ohio River. Also provided survey of existing river cell to determine if dredging would be necessary, USACE permit coordination, and IDEM Rule 5 permitting.
Survey- Coal Transfer Rail Loop Surveys, West Franklin, Indiana
Client: Indianapolis Department of Public Works
 Performed preliminary surveys for fee simple real estate and easement acquisition and topographic mapping. Developed 3D models of proposed rail loop embankment from design drawings that were used by GPS-enabled excavation equipment for construction of the embankment. Provided construction layout of storage structures and coal dump facility.
- Main Ash Pond Extension, Mercer County, Kentucky
Performed site setup and calibration of GPS systems, prepared 3D site model of the proposed excavation areas, performed extensive volumetric calculations and reporting, and performed as-built surveys of the newly constructed ash pond.
- Coal Transfer Rail Loop Surveys, West Franklin, Indiana
Performed preliminary surveys for fee simple real estate and easement acquisition and topographic mapping. Developed 3D models of proposed rail loop embankment from design drawings that were used by GPS-enabled excavation equipment for construction of the embankment. Provided construction layout of storage structures and coal dump facility.
Land Acquisition- Acquisition of Easements for Pipeline Project, Hartford, Illinois
Client: Valero Logistics Operations & STC Incorporated
Acquisition of permanent easements from property owners for the installation of a petroleum pipeline from Valero's barge terminal on the Mississippi River to their storage facility in Hartford, Illinois. Easements to be acquired and rights-of-entry established with affected owners including three railroad companies, a major regional electric company, US Army Corps of Engineers and an area levee district.
Environmental Services- Wetland Studies, Surface Coal Mine, Pike County, Indiana
Provided wetland and stream identifications and delineations on this 350-acre surface coal mine site. This included the identification and delineation of more than 20 wetland areas, more than 25 streams, a number of open-water ponds, and coordination with the USACE on jurisdictional status of the wetlands proposed to be impacted by this coal mine project. Also completed and submitted the US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and Indiana Department of Environmental Management 401 Water Quality Certification for this site including Rosgen Natural channel stream designs for the replacement of stream channels during the mine reclamation process.
Bridge Design- Haul Road Bridge, Gibson County, Indiana
Design for service-level bridge design to transport fly ash from power plant to disposal site. The 2-span (78'; 92') structure at a 25 degree skew was designed to carry Caterpillar 777D Off-Highway Trucks that feature a total load of 180 tons and axle spacing of 15 feet. The structure consisted of 60-inch-deep prestressed box beams with a 10-inch composite concrete slab. The structure is supported on integral end bents and a pile-supported solid stem pier. The substructure was widened to accommodate a future prefab steel truss utility bridge.
- Railroad Lead Bridge, Hazelton, Indiana
Client: Cornette Engineering Services
Design of four pre-stressed concrete box beam bridges to carry CSX Transportation rails serving nearby coal mines over Gibson County creeks. Included a 3-span bridge over Conger Creek; a 2-span bridge over Harbin Creek; a 3-span bridge over Robb Creek; and a 3-span bridge over Robb Creek.
Bridge Rating for Heavy Loads- Bridge Rating for Oversized Vehicles Carrying Super-Loads, Mt. Vernon to Edwardsport, Indiana
Client: Bigge Crane & Rigging
Inspected select bridges along the route for special permit vehicles that haul multiple oversized super-loads from Mt. Vernon to the new Duke Energy facility in Edwardsport. Loads vary from 300,000 – 1,200,000 pounds. The inspection process includes evaluating the bridge prior to, during, and immediately following the load. Precise measurements using survey equipment measure deflection and rebound effects per INDOT permit requirements.
Conveyance Structures- Underground Coal Conveyance System, Princeton, Indiana
Client: Peabody Coal
After conducting a study to determine how best to transport coal from the mines to nearby rail, design of a large box-culvert housing a conveyor installed using an open-cut was determined to be the best solution. The need to cross a major freeway, however, required innovative traffic plan and fast-track construction phasing to keep 2 lanes open at all times and complete work within the limited time allowed by INDOT. This project received awards from the American Consulting Engineers Council and the National Precast Concrete Association.
-
Client: Indiana Department of Transportation
This project involved replacement or rehabilitation of 10 bridges as part of reconstruction of an 8-lane interchange serving as a collector-distributor for up to 180,000 vehicles a day. Included among the complex bridge replacements was the design of Shadeland Avenue northbound over I-465 featuring a superstructure consisting of a 2-span continuous-curved composite steel plate girder bridge. The structure was built to a 230-meter horizontal radius at a 34°25’53” skew and supported on non-integral end bents on piles and a wall type pier on a multi-row pile foundation.
-
Client: Illinois Department of Transportation, District 7
This bridge replacement project involved design of a 5-span (83'; 83'; 126'; 83'; 83') precast concrete Bulb-T structure with a total length of 465' back-to-back abutment square to the roadway. Design also included approximately 1,725 feet of roadway and a profile grade raise of approximately 20". The high potential for scour resulted in a complex substructure design featuring pile-supported stub abutments, pile-supported solid wall piers and solid wall piers supported with multiple rows of piles.. The new bridge is being built under staged construction to allow for maintenance of traffic. .
-
Client: Orange County Board of Commissioners
 This Orange County landmark, built in 1880, was located just south of the County Court House. By 1997 the historic Pratt truss bridge, an outstanding example of a late 19th century bridge, was showing its age. Not only was it badly rusted, but the decorative wrought iron over the gateway was broken and missing elements. The wooden deck was also in need of repair. BLA provided design services to rehabilitate the bridge, as well as Section 106 cultural resource coordination under the National Historic Preservation Act.
-
Client: St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners
 BLA was retained to perform Phase I inspection of the Bridge 211, a beautiful historic arch spandrel bridge built in 1940, and to recommend rehabilitation or replacement of the structure. The main purpose for the services requested by the County was to perform a preliminary condition survey and an analysis of the ring with appropriate recommendations to be undertaken in order to remove the load limit if possible.
The analysis of the Angela Boulevard Bridge revealed that the 15-ton load limit could be provisionally removed for the next few years (approximately five years). Deterioration of the sidewalk and its associated cantilevered beams, as well as the ring along the gutter line, dictated that rehabilitation be accomplished in that five-year period, after which the bridge should serve the public for many years to come. Otherwise it would be necessary to require the load limit be placed back on the bridge. As a result, the county proceeded with BLA’s recommendation to rehabilitate the bridge.
-
Client: St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners
BLA was retained to perform Phase I inspection of the St. Joseph County Bridge 211 and to recommend rehabilitation or replacement of the structure. The main purpose for the services requested by the County was to perform a preliminary condition survey and an analysis of the ring with appropriate recommendations to be undertaken in order to remove the load limit if possible.
The analysis of the Angela Boulevard Bridge revealed that the 15-ton load limit can be provisionally removed for the next few years (approximately 5 years). The deterioration of the sidewalk and its associated cantilevered beams, and the ring along the gutter line, dictate the rehabilitation should be accomplished in that five-year period. If these repairs were not accomplished, then it was recommended that the load limit should once again be placed on the bridge. When the bridge is rehabilitated, there will be no need to implement the load limit as the rehabilitated bridge should serve the public for many years to come. No Phase II limited testing and analysis of this bridge was required. It was BLA’s recommendation that this bridge be rehabilitated.
-
Client: Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
 IDOT retained BLA to provide the necessary Phase I and Phase II Engineering Services detailing the rehabilitation of approximately six miles of I-57/I-70 to upgrade the existing four lanes of interstate to a six-lane facility. As part of this effort, the project included the inspection of seven bridges within the limits of the proposed added travel lanes. The structure inspections evaluated both the existing conditions and the functional adequacy of the existing geometries to accommodate the additional travel lanes.
All structural members and components were inspected visually to assess the apparent physical condition of each bridge. Areas where apparent deterioration or damage was observed were probed further to determine the limits of such deterioration.
-
Client: City of Evansville
 This plaza restoration was designed to accommodate riverfront events held each summer. The majority of the river’s edge was lined with sheet piling, capable of launching hydroplane boats, with a staging platform behind the wall to allow the boom cranes a level, safe place to stage their operations. At the west end of the sheet pile wall was a boat ramp for small craft launching. In addition, there were two levels of tiered seating formed into the reconstruction to create an amphitheater for fans of the boat race and other events. Above the plaza was the riverside walkway and bikeway. This area was enhanced with the creation of three overlook areas perched above the amphitheater seating area providing the walkway users and bikers an opportunity to pause and enjoy the riverfront.
The riverfront had significantly deteriorated due to the annual seasonal flooding of the plaza. This reconstruction restabilized the bank by introducing the pile edge. Much of the work described involved a great deal of structural engineering and integral detailing to make all of the components work in harmony. Designing these components with the knowledge that the entire project was subject to annual spring flooding presented many challenging design elements to ensure long-time stability.
-
Client: Valero Logistics Operations & STC Incorporated
Acquisition of permanent easements from property owners for the installation of a petroleum pipeline from Valero's barge terminal on the Mississippi River to their storage facility in Hartford, Illinois. Easements to be acquired and rights-of-entry established with affected owners including three railroad companies, a major regional electric company, US Army Corps of Engineers and an area levee district.
-
Client: Wetland Studies, Surface Coal Mine, Pike County, Indiana
Provided wetland and stream identifications and delineations on this 350-acre surface coal mine site. This included the identification and delineation of more than 20 wetland areas, more than 25 streams, a number of open-water ponds, and coordination with the USACE on jurisdictional status of the wetlands proposed to be impacted by this coal mine project. Also completed and submitted the US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permit and Indiana Department of Environmental Management 401 Water Quality Certification for this site including Rosgen Natural channel stream designs for the replacement of stream channels during the mine reclamation process.
-
|
