APWA Chicago

U.S. Route 14 Grade Separation Project

gzadan — ��Ϸ��d, 01 Dec 2021 15:21:11 +0000

U.S. Route 14 Grade Separation Project gzadan ��Ϸ��d, 12/01/2021 - 10:21

Challenge

The Village of Barrington, Illinois, has begun the design process of reconstructing U.S. Route 14 to pass underneath the heavily traveled Canadian National (CN) rail line that runs through downtown Barrington. The US Route 14 Grade Separation Project includes reconstruction of the four-lane US Route 14, the CN rail line, associated local roads, relocation of Flint Creek, design of the associated Greenway, and construction of a naturalized stormwater basin for the Barrington Public Library.

GZA’s role in the US Route 14 Underpass Project is to provide environmental services through the Phase II transportation design process, including wetland, biological, special waste, and stream restoration design, as well as county, state, and federal permitting.

Notable challenges to this high-profile project include the Flint Creek relocation design associated with the US Route 14 underpass. The Flint Creek crossing is located at the US Route 14 and CN rail intersection. To construct the US Route 14 underpass, the location of Flint Creek must be relocated approximately 1,000 feet to the west. As this project is located in Barrington’s downtown area, the available space for the new Flint Creek channel is limited.

Solution

The Village, in conjunction with IDOT, conducted a Preliminary Engineering Study for the grade separation after receiving a Federal TIGER II Planning Grant to investigate alternatives for implementing a grade separation at the existing at-grade crossing. This study followed guidelines prescribed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A public outreach program was also developed for the project based upon the principles of the IDOT’s Context Sensitive Solutions Policy (CSS). The CSS is an interdisciplinary approach that seeks solutions by working with stakeholders to develop cost-effective transportation facilities which fit into and reflect a project’s surroundings.

For Phase II of the US Route 14 Underpass Project, GZA will conduct ��Ϸ��tland Delineations and prepare a ��Ϸ��tland Report, Tree Surveys and an associated Memorandum, Individual Section 401 Water Quality Certification, Threatened and Endangered species habitat surveys, Stream Realignment Assessment and Design, Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA), Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI), Clean Construction or Demolition Debris (CCDD), NEPA Support Services, Natural Areas Design Services, and USACE and Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (LCSMC) Permitting.

Two commercial properties and eight homes will be demolished to accommodate the Flint Creek realignment and US Route 14 underpass. Approximately 1,700 linear feet of Flint Creek will be relocated through the two commercial properties and four homes. In addition to the stream realignment assessment and design, GZA will conduct an Antidegradation Analysis, which will include a full biological assessment of the stream reach including surveys for fish, macroinvertebrates, and mussels, as well as pollutant loading analysis. The remnant stream channel will be left in place and enhanced for stormwater storage, wildlife habitat, and water quality benefit.

Benefit

Along with the naturalization of a proposed stormwater basin at the adjacent Barrington Public Library, the enhanced old Flint Creek channel and the new Flint Creek Greenway will provide community natural area access in Barrington’s downtown area. GZA’s extensive and detailed reporting, data collection, and design assisted in maintaining project timelines and budgets.

Grade separation project
Environmental services through Phase II transportation design process
��Ϸ��tland, biological, special waste, and stream restoration design
County, state, and federal permitting

Natural Resources and Ecological Services

Wolf Point East

gzadan — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 13:59:51 +0000

Wolf Point East gzadan Fri, 12/06/2019 - 08:59

Challenge

Wolf Point East is a 60+story residential tower under construction and located on the Chicago River with an estimated cost of $350 million dollars. The tower includes 6 levels of underground parking and a core structure which extends approximately 35ft and 53ft below grade respectively. The design of an Earth Retention System (ERS) presented challenges due to the small size and irregular shape of the lot; presence of adjacent parking structures which would remain operational during construction; Wolf Point Plaza; North Orleans Street; bracing layout and conflicts with column/shear wall lines; and the Chicago River on two sides. In addition, City Authorities required hand calculations for the design of the main members of the ERS system in preference to computer output.

Solution

GZA engineers performed the design using DeepXcav software and validated it through hand calculations. Hand calculations were performed in MathCAD with a special function tool that allows to report all the “numbers�� that go into every equation. After submission of the hand calculations to the City, the Engineer requested a 2D structural model of the internal bracing scheme to show the load distribution around the bracing. This analysis was performed using RISA3D structural software.

The ERS was composed of a steel sheet pile perimeter system down to elevation -50 (City of Chicago Datum (CCD)) and then a Core ERS composed soldier piles and lagging that extended from -29 to -59 (CCD). The two-level internal bracing system was composed of skewed 24 to 36-inch diameter Grade 3 pipe sections with varying wall thicknesses and heavy single & double W36 wales. The internal bracing system also supported the neighboring parking garage which extended to similar elevation below grade. Vertical transfer beams were used to span between the neighboring parking garage slabs to avoid unfavorable loading of its exterior walls with high corner brace loads. The design load on the braces reached up to 2,100kips and jacking loads were between 180 to 1050kips. The excavation included the removal of approximately 40,100 yd3 of material.

The tower structure is supported on large diameter drilled shaft foundations. The requirement for an internal braced ERS and the space for construction of large diameter shafts severely limited the remaining workspace. The core excavation required another 19-ft of excavation using internally braced soldier piles and lagging. GZA performed overall global stability analysis to ensure the main ERS, including the core ERS was stable. As the internal brace system and corner struts had to be supported on the neighboring parking garage, GZA designed a system to spread the loads to floor elevations and checked the parking garage slab against the applied thrust.

Benefit

The underground portion of the proposed building was constructed on schedule. The use of hand calculations in conjunction with geotechnical and structural software provided accurate estimates of the loads imposed on the ERS, which ultimately substantiated the installation of a more cost effective ERS resulting in savings in materials and labor during construction. The designed system was effective in providing the needed lateral support and allowed the below grade construction to be completed efficiently meeting the contractor’s requirements and satisfied the OUC concerns. The project received an SEAOI Excellence Award.

Related Insights

Blog

Optimizing Nourishment Strategies: A Multi-Model Approach for a Massachusetts Barrier Beach

Marsh barrier beaches form a line of defense against storm surges and sea level rise for coastal communities. Along the Massachusetts coastline near Boston, USA, there are several beaches composed of...

Blog

Poster: ProvPort Master Plan

ProvPort, Inc. operates the Port of Providence in Rhode Island, which is one of only two deep-water ports in New England, one of five active ports in Rhode Island, and one of the busiest deep-water...

Article

Creating a Resilient Marina

In the July/August 2025 issue of Marina Dock Age, Dan Stapleton, Matt Page, Jeff Taylor, and Wayne Cobleigh are the coauthors of �� Creating a Resilient Marina.�� In this article, the authors explore...

Blog

Navigating Dynamics: Sediment Transport Modeling of Sturgeon Point Marina

GZA modeled sediment transport around an important regional marina in Lake Erie using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model and the CMS (Coastal Modeling System)-Flow/CMS-Wave coupled model...

Pre-bid engineering services
Earth Retention System (ERS) design, including both internal bracing
Global stability analysis
Engineering services during construction
Structural analysis to distribute the brace loads applied to the neighboring parking garage

Illinois

Buildings & Real Estate Development

Geotechnical Engineering Services

Contractor Services

Waterfront and Coastal Engineering

Alice’s Garden Urban Farm Sustainable Stormwater Management

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 18:04:43 +0000

Alice’s Garden Urban Farm Sustainable Stormwater Management Anonymous Thu, 09/26/2019 - 14:04

Challenge

Alice’s Garden Urban Farm, one of Milwaukee’s largest community gardens, sought a sustainable, safe water source that would reduce the reliance on municipally supplied water for irrigation. GZA designed a rainwater harvesting system and worked with the garden operator, the local non-profit Reflo, and the community to build it within the organization’s limited budget. Water quality was paramount for the crop irrigation and ultimately human consumption.

Solution

GZA’s design diverts stormwater runoff from an adjacent asphalt schoolyard into a bioswale for infiltration, which then discharges to an underground cistern with a capacity exceeding 20,000 gallons. A solar-panel-powered pump allows gardeners to access the harvested rainwater, which is routed through a filtration and disinfection system before use. A GZA engineer helped stretch the project budget by providing supportive design analysis and research via an independent study project as part of her master’s degree. She conducted a water quality risk assessment to affirm that the proposed treatment system would sufficiently mitigate human contact with potential pollutants typically found in urban stormwater runoff. A hydraulic model was also developed to help optimize the water treatment and distribution system. Other project considerations which GZA addressed included protecting existing underground irrigation lines, minimizing disruption to active garden plots, and securing off-site easements for stormwater diversion and collection. To construct the underground cistern, 150+ volunteers assembled over 625 Aquablox^��, a geosynthetic, interlocking tank system product.

Benefit

GZA's engineers were integral to the creative problem solving, deliberate engineering design, and community engagement, which maximized the project budget, not only in the rainwater harvesting system’s construction, but in ongoing water utility bills. The combined effect of projects such as this allow the sustainable management of stormwater and help improve water quality city-wide.

Insights

EPA Brownfields Grant
Green infrastructure
Rainwater harvesting
Bioswale and underground cistern
Off-site stormwater source
Academic collaboration
Hydraulic modeling
Water quality risk assessment
Community engagement
Solar energy
NGO client

Water

Geotechnical Engineering Services

Water Resources

Energy and Sustainability Services