SRF provided contract administration, design review services, construction observation, and materials compliance in support of MnDOT’s Management of the Design-Build contract to replace the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River. SRF provided design review services for all phases of the project as well as staff for observation, quality assurance and verification, claim management and surveying. Due to the aggressive schedule (construction 24/7) of the design-build contractor, SRF was flexible in responding to changes in staffing needs with more than 30 individuals on site during peak staffing requirements. 

SRF provided observation personnel for construction of the foundation, substructures, concrete segments (casting yard), segment erection, miscellaneous superstructure, retaining walls, grading and base, concrete and bituminous pavement, and fencing. SRF staff also contributed to plant inspection, material testing and an on-site testing laboratory.

Design review services included over the shoulder reviews, release for construction reviews, and final plan review. All reviews were conducted to ensure that designs met the criteria of the RFP and MnDOT standards. 

Our team members met regularly with staff from MnDOT and the design-build contractor to coordinate activities and develop solutions to design and construction challenges. To improve the oversight process for future design-build projects, SRF aided MnDOT in developing the TRACS materials module. The bridge was open to traffic in less than one year from the selection of the Design-Build Contractor.

As part of the contractor’s design-build team, SRF was responsible for the design and quality management of MnDOT’s TH 610 design-build project from TH 169 to CSAH 81 (west of Hemlock Lane). SRF staff served as the Quality Manager and was responsible for the overall design and construction quality as well as developing the quality management system, training personnel, and supervising the design and construction quality managers and their staff.

SRF also had several inspectors in the role of critical activity point managers who were responsible for the day-to-day observation and quality management of the six bridges being constructed on the corridor.

The award-winning I-394 MnPASS express lane in Minneapolis allows solo drivers to use an express lane previously reserved for carpools, buses, and motorcycles. SRF was the lead designer on all I-394 corridor improvements, including traffic modeling, engineering, operational analysis, civil engineering design, structural engineering, intelligent transportation systems, electrical, signing, and striping design. SRF staff also served as the principal liaison on the project with MnDOT traffic management staff and systems and coordinated the ITS system integration and design.

SRF managed the contractors overseeing the installation of electrical, ITS devices and communications media such as fiber optic cable along the corridor. We worked closely with all project team members to meet the needs of the client.

Awards

• 2006 Institute of Transportation Engineers Transportation Achievement Award for Operations
• 2006 International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association Award in the Operations Category
• 2006 Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s Best of ITS Awards in the Partnership Deployment Category
• 2006 American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota Honor Award
• 2005 TEAMFL Chairman’s Award for Innovative Design
• FHWA 2006 Excellence in Highway Design Awards Intelligent Transportation Systems Category
• 2008 TRB HOV Leadership Award

SRF provided contract administration, construction observation, materials compliance, and visual quality management verification as part of MnDOT’s design-build oversight team for the upgrade of TH-169 through historic St. Peter. Our work on the project include:

• Concrete and soils testing
• Grading observation
• Concrete paving observation
• Storm sewer observation
• Curb and gutter observation
• Documentation
• Contract administration