What was the technology/innovation used to complete this project and why is it innovative?
An Emergency Proclamation allowed PennDOT and the City of Pittsburgh to partner and utilize all available powers, resources, and personnel deemed necessary to cope with the magnitude and severity of the bridge collapse. A Sole-Source Design/Build Construction Contract allowed Swank Construction Company and HDR to team and immediately begin design and construction of the new Fern Hollow Bridge. The emergency proclamation allowed the team to simultaneously design multiple packages and provide partial design submissions of critical path items. The team streamlined project delivery by using existing geotechnical studies and available material while simultaneously procuring long lead time items early.
What did the customer (the user of the system) gain by utilizing this innovation/technology? How did it impact the project in a way that would not have been possible without it?
It was clear that re-opening the route quickly, safely, and within budget were critical to a successful project. Immediately design decisions had to account for the existing bridge location, ROW limitations, environmental / historical impacts, and requirements from traffic volumes and pedestrian / bicycle. By utilizing a progressive design/build delivery process, a project that would normally take four to five years from conception to completion, had ground broken in three months and was substantially complete in under 11 months allowing users onto the bridge again, avoiding the congested detour that added at least 20 minutes to their commute times.
