Owner: The Ohio Department of Transportation
Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
Nominated by: Anthony D. Yacobucci, P.E., HNTB Ohio, Inc.
Description: The I-77 bridges at Kingsbury Run provide a vital transportation link to downtown Cleveland from the south. Despite earlier repairs, the spans had continued to deteriorate and had become a serious safety concern. The renovations eliminated non-redundant and fatigue critical members in the superstructure, and overstressed foundation piles and footings. As part of the renovations, the spans were widened to accommodate increased traffic volume. The replacement structure is designed to carry higher AASHTO traffic loads but uses 13% less structural steel. Four lanes of traffic, two in each direction, were maintained during construction, this being accomplished partly by closing some access ramps and directing local traffic to alternate routes that are still being used by many commuters. The design was completed in a compressed 14-month schedule to qualify for FY Federal renovation funding.
Owner: City of Cincinnati
Location: Cincinnati, Hamilton County
Nominated by: John F. Deatrick, P.E., City of Cincinnati
Description: In describing the benefits of the project John P. Williams, Jr., President of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, had this to say, "For many reasons the FWW project is a great one for our entire region. Its payoffs are many. Just considering transportation, this project took an old and outmoded section of the highway and recast it as a modern, efficient transportation link for the next 25 years. That's a critical accomplishment in a congested urban setting. In addition, this reconfiguration helped Cincinnati reclaim approximately 17 acres of riverfront land for development. It closes the gap between downtown and the Ohio River, and it makes transport much more efficient for the entire region, from the Airport to downtown to the suburban areas along I-71 and I-75."
Owner: The Ohio Department of Transportation
Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
Nominated by: Michael J. Shipper, P.E., HNTB Ohio, Inc.
Description: This project is unique in the state because I-271 is the only highway with dedicated express lanes. When I-271 was completed it traversed through relatively undeveloped terrain. During the 70s and 80s development along the corridor increased traffic until capacity improvements had to be considered. The capacity improvements were envisioned with a direct connection between the existing I-480 roadways and both the express and local lanes on I-271. The project presented a unique challenge because traffic volumes near the peak design volume for the interchange had to be maintained during construction.
Owner: ODOT, Cuyahoga County Engineer
Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
Nominated by: Michael J. Schipper, P.E., HNTB Ohio, Inc.
Description: When Cleveland's landmark Veterans Memorial Bridge opened in 1917, it was the longest double-decked, reinforced concrete bridge in the world. The twelve concrete arch approach spans and 591 foot, three-hinged, steel arch, center span were renovated and widened in the 1960s. By the 1980s the bridge's condition had become critical due to a failed paint system and ineffective drainage. The renovation included the replacement of 1.4 million pounds of structural steel and 80% of the concrete from the lower deck up. The lower arches and piers were extensively repaired. Construction sequencing was critical to avoid interference with other construction beneath the bridge. The addition of decorative lighting has made the bridge a focal point of Cleveland's entertainment district. The care given to architectural details restored the 1917 appearance of the bridge.
Owner: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
Nominated by: Robert P. Hickey, P.E., Parsons Brinckerhoff Ohio, Inc.
Description: This project required a number of innovative engineering solutions, fast track design, and coordination of numerous design consultants and contractors. Among the design and construction challenges were tangent pile walls alongside transit lines that were kept in continuous operation, soil nails used to support existing bridge abutments while they were being modified to permit the through passage of the new transit lines, and the first use in Ohio of a precast concrete segmental bridge. The stations were designed to reflect the character Great Lakes shipping and the history and ethnicity of the City. The 2.2 mile, four station line was opened in a formal ceremony by Governor Voinovich and Mayor White. Light rail now connects Cleveland Hopkins Airport with Tower City; then via the Waterfront Line, the Flats entertainment district, North Coast Harbor, Great Lakes Science Center, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Browns Stadium, Conrail, and municipal parking.
Emergency Spillway and Inflatable Dam, 1996
Owner: Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD)
Location: Mineral Ridge, Youngstown, Mahoning County
Nominated by: Thomas F. Mosure, P.E., P.S., ms consultants, inc.
Description: The Meander Reservoir, the sole water supply for Youngstown and Niles, is impounded by a 55 foot high, 3,400 foot long, earth embankment. The dam required upgrading of the spillway capacity to pass the probable maximum flood without overtopping, doubling the former capacity. The MVSD also needed to increase reservoir capacity by 30 days without requiring shoreline protection. Spillway capacity was increased by adding a dual side channel emergence spillway. Reservoir capacity was increased by the addition of a high reinforced concrete curb to the embankment and an innovative inflatable rubber dam to the original spillway.
Owner: City of Alliance
Location: Alliance, Stark County
Nominated by: Said W. Abou Abdallah, Findbeiner, Pettis & Strout, Inc.
Description: The new 10 MGD Alliance Water Treatment Plant, built on a 300 acre city owned site, replaces a circa 1913 plant that was failing structurally and had difficulty meeting water quality standards. A goal in the design of the new plant was to allow maximum operating flexibility, reduce costs, and provide aesthetically pleasing facilities. The new plant uses proven technology in an unconventional manner. Filters are arranged to reduce the interconnecting piping, and reactor basins and clarifiers are arranged to operate in either series or parallel to adapt to seasonal variations in raw water quality. Considerable flexibility was designed into the chemical feed and hydraulic paths. Major components of the original distribution system were reused to reduce costs. The architectural treatment of the operations buildings and major plant components met the goal of providing an aesthetically pleasing facility.
Owner: Lake County Commissioners
Location: Fairport Harbor, Lake County
Nominated by: Phillip W. Schrout, P.E., CT Consultants, Inc.
Description: When mandated to eliminate wet weather sewage overflows from its circa 1940s system in Fairport Harbor, the Lake County Commissioners sought a cost effective, innovative solution. Studies indicated the need for above ground storage with overflows pumped into the tank and then released by gravity. However, public acceptance of a new above ground tank presented a problem. Conversion of an abandoned industrial fuel storage tank provided the solution. The design addressed structural integrity and environmental problems. An abandoned and deteriorating structure was recycled for beneficial alternative use.
Owner: Franklin County Engineer
Location: Columbus, Franklin County
Nominated by: Burgess & Niple, Ltd.
Description: A replacement structure for the deteriorated Broad Street Bridge in downtown Columbus could not detract from the charm of the Civic Center Historic District. Therefore, a community-based task force was organized to developed the visual design parameters for its replacement. The Task Force with additional input from public agencies and private individuals developed more than 115 criteria. The new Discovery Bridge is a unique structure that is respectful and reminiscent of the previous bridge while blending into the historic district, has the ability to accommodate future riverfront development, provides pedestrian access, met aesthetic criteria, and was cost efficient, all while satisfying the latest code requirements. At the time of its completion, the project claimed a number of firsts including: first cast-in-place post tensioned bridge in Ohio, largest laminated elastomeric bearings in the US, and largest diameter drilled shaft foundations for a bridge in Ohio.
The Portage/Catawba Island Township Sewer System, 1992
Owner: Board of Ottawa County Commissioners
Location: Catawba Island, Portage Township, Ottawa County
Nominated by: Warren E. Henry, P.E., Findbeiner, Pettis &
Strout, Ltd.
Description: This project was unique from initial conception
to final completion. Encouraging public involvement during planning,
preservation of a sole source shallow rock aquifer, wetlands protection,
seasonal population changes ten times greater than the year-round population,
multiple agency review and approvals, acquisition of over 1,000 easements, the
magnitude of the improvements which included over 45 miles of sewers, 45 pumping
stations and a 1.34 MGD treatment plant, construction coordination, assessments,
public hearings, and project financing each in themselves offered significant
challenges. Combining all these factors resulted in a tremendously complex
project. Many doubted whether the project was feasible at all.
Owner: Toledo, Ohio, Division of Water Reclamation
Location: Toledo, Lucas County
Nominated by: Steven Wordelman, Jones & Henry Engineers, Inc.
Description: Abatement of sewage overflows from Toledo's combine sewers was accomplished with a system of underground storage tunnels. The project consists of three segments totaling 19,000 lf of 13.5 foot diameter tunnels with a storage capacity of 19.5 million gallons. The downtown segment, about 5,400 lf in length, is the recipient of the 1991 Award. The system captures and stores the overflow from combine sewers during storm events. When capacity is again available in the normal interceptor system, the sewage discharge is returned to the system by three sump pumps. The fully completed system will capture 50% to 80% of the City's combine sewer overflow substantially reducing the pollution discharge to the receiving streams. Technical challenges including pressure surges, odors, sludge accumulation, and wave action in the tunnels had to be solved by the designers.
Owner: City of Youngstown
Location: Youngstown, Mahoning County
Nominated by: Thomas F. Mosure, P.E., P.S., Mosure & Syrakis Co.
Description: The upgrade and expansion of the Youngstown Wastewater Treatment Plant combined two innovative sludge handling technologies that resulted in reduced capital cost and energy consumption, and a design that contained the project within the existing limited site. The improvements bring the plant into compliance with the Clean Water Act and upgrade water quality in the receiving stream, the Mahoning River, by providing 97% pollutant removal. Improvements to the City's waste removal systems have been acclaimed as a catalyst for economic recovery in the Mahoning Valley.
Owner: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Location: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
Nominated by: Sydney L. Zeid, P.E., Malcolm Pirnie