I-95 Bridge Rehabilitations: Project Overview

1. I-95 Bridge Rehabilitations:Project Overview Steven McNeely, Project Manager Project Management Office Richmond District

2. What I’ll Cover Today • What’s happening? • Why? • Where and when? • What are we doing to help you? • What can you do to help? • What else can we do?

3. What’s Happening? • VDOT is rehabilitating 11 bridges on I-95 to maintain safe and smooth travel through Richmond for all drivers • This is also the area of highway where I-64 merges with I-95 • Aging bridges will be rehabilitated between Lombardy St (near Exit 76B) and Upham Brook (near Route 301 / Exit 82) • Construction begins summer 2010 and is estimated to last 4.5 years • Lane closures will be limited to overnight and occasional weekends • One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained at all times for drivers, plus one lane for emergency vehicles during most phases • Result: • Extends the lifespan of safe travel on I-95 corridor for at least another 5 decades • Incorporates technical and material improvements for extended structure life • Creates safer, smoother and more reliable travel through Richmond

4. What’s Happening: History • $120 million project funded by federal (80%) and state (20%) dollars • Original contract initiated in 1997 • First phase (James River Bridge) was completed in 2002 • Remaining project advertised to construction contractors March 2010 • Construction estimated to begin Summer 2010

5. What’s Happening: Cutting Old Slab

6. What’s Happening: Removing Old Slab

7. What’s Happening: Preparing Bearing Seats

8. What’s Happening: Lifting New Section

9. What’s Happening: Setting New Section

10. What’s Happening: Matching & Epoxying Slab

11. What’s Happening: Accomplishments to Date • Public briefings • Citizens Information Meeting (December 2008) • Willingness to hold public hearing (December 2008) • Business and government briefings (Summer 2009) • Environmental permits secured • Roadway and bridge plans completed – URS • Maintenance of Traffic / Traffic Management Plan completed - Wilbur Smith • Constructability review completed – Alpha • Communications plan completed – VDOT / Siddall

12. What’s Happening: Project Cost • Project Estimate • Preliminary Engineering: $ 7,160,000  • Right of Way: $ 240,000 • Construction: $112,600,000 • Total: $120,000,000 • Project is fully funded

13. Why? • The rehabilitation of this intersection of I-95 and I-64 in Richmond is vital to travel and commerce through Virginia • I-95 / I-64 through Richmond is dependent on the function of its bridges and overpasses • Construction and maintenance records indicate these 50-year-old spans need rehabilitation to ensure safe and continued travel across the region • Opportunity to apply new technology and materials • This saves maintenance time and money in the long-term • Based on the success of the James River Bridge project, the overnight construction schedule will be used for a timely, cost efficient and less disruptive project

14. Where? • Upham Brook creek • Laburnum Ave • Westwood Ave • I-95 south ramp to Boulevard • Boulevard • Hermitage Road • Robin Hood Road • Sherwood Ave • Overbrook Road • 10 / 11. Lombardy Street and CSX Bridge • 12. Broad Street (COMPLETED 2002) • 13. James River Bridge (COMPLETED 2002)

15. When? • Phased construction across 4.5 years to reduce interruption and gain efficiency throughout project • Phase I: Roadway and Substructure repairs • Phase II: Prepare MOT for Bridge work • Phase III: Lombardy/CSX Bridge • Phase IV: Laburnum and Westwood Bridges • Phase V: Hermitage, The Blvd and Ramp A Bridges • Phase VI: Overbrook, Sherwood, and Robin Hood Bridges • Phase VII: Upham Brook (north and south) • Exact dates to be announced Summer 2010

16. What are we doing to help you? • VDOT is limiting travel interruption • VDOT is keeping you informed • VDOT is keeping you safe • VDOT is listening

17. #1 - Limiting Travel Interruption • Maintaining one lane of travel in each direction at all times • Providing emergency lane during lane closures during most phases • Restricting lane closures to OVERNIGHT during the week: • 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM on designated weeknights • Additional lane closures limited to weekends, only when needed: • 8:00 PM Fri to 6:00 AM Monday • Schedules are flexible to avoid major events, holidays or inclement weather • Despite best efforts, there will inevitably be delays and back-ups

18. #1 - Limiting Travel Interruption • Typical Maintenance of Travel

19. #1 - Limiting Travel Interruption • Zipper machine moves barriers into place for quick lane adjustments

20. #1 - Limiting Travel Interruption • Shifting traffic to one side of the interstate

21. #2 - Keeping You Informed • Communications Plan in place to inform those affected: • Residents and travelers • Local business and schools • Travel, tourism and transportation partners • Government officials • Media and press • Public safety community

22. #2- Keeping You Informed: Active Outreach • Community and stakeholder briefings • Face-to-face opportunities to learn and get your questions answered • Project update newsletter • A weekly update in your inbox • News coverage • Project news and regular traffic updates distributed through our news partners • Web site / Online • A one-stop shop for project news and updates, plus a place to register for more information • Signage and Advisories • Detour and directional announcements via variable message signs, TV, radio and web • Supplemental paid media to guarantee visibility of project news and announcements

23. #2 - Keeping You Informed: Personal Tools • VDOT provides several options for you to stay informed and receive updates: • Calling 511 • Register for alerts or create a personalized dashboard at 511Virgina.org • Follow @511CentralVA on Twitter • Visit project web page on VirginiaDOT.org • Sign-up for weekly email alerts (at VirginiaDOT.org)

25. #2 - Keeping You Informed: Optimization • We will be tracking communications’ effectiveness to optimize program across project lifespan • Resident satisfaction tracking survey • Stakeholder satisfaction interviews • Media tracking and analysis • GOAL: Get you the information you need in the most effective and cost efficient manner possible, so that your travel is as safe and as easy as possible

26. #3 - Keeping You Safe • Committed to maintaining a safe work zone for everyone • Reduced speed limits in work zone during construction • Increased fines for speed violations in work zone • Maintaining emergency lane during most phases • Keeping traffic volume down through detours • Promoting a driver distraction-free work zone • Advance coordination with emergency personnel and first responders to clear incidents quickly • Including work zone safety as part of communications program • Enlisting your help in promoting a safety as a priority

27. What Can You Do To Help? • Stay informed • Attend public meetings • Sign up for news and alerts (email newsletter, 511 or Twitter) • Drive smart and safe • Schedule travel around lane closures when possible • Use alternate routes or detours during construction • If you must travel through construction: slow down, be patient and stay alert • Encourage others to do the same • Tell friends, family and coworkers about project and ways to stay updated • Remind others to try alternate routes, alternate travel times and to be safe • Provide feedback

28. What else can we do? • We want to hear your questions, concerns and thoughts now and throughout the project • We will do our best to respond in a timely manner and with accurate information • We won’t be able to accommodate all requests, but value your feedback so that we can improve our service to the best of our ability. • VDOT Public Affairs • 804-524-6179 • 95bridges@vdot.virginia.gov

29. Thank You