PORTFOLIO
HRBT Expansion
Norfolk, Virginia
SAP Engineers is working as a subconsultant to WSP/VDOT GEC team on the Design-Build HRBT Expansion project providing bridge engineering services as a lead structural engineer. SAP Engineers, PLLC responsibilities include coordinating and reviewing Stage I, Stage 2 and RFC structures designs and plans for all 24 landside bridge structures including retaining walls and sound walls. Al manages and coordinates handoff and hand back meetings with DB team for each submittal as well as weekly structures meetings with VDOT Complex Bridge Design and Geotechnical Groups, FHWA and Hampton roads District Structure and Bridge office.
Technical guidance is also provided to a HRBT project team on a variety of structural design and detailing issues such as prestressed concrete beams design with CFRP strands, design of precast caps and connections, retaining wall systems and clarifying project technical requirements.
VDOT Road and Bridge Standards
As a subconsultant to Clark Nexsen, SAP Engineers, PLLC is providing structural design and QA/QC services to update VDOT Road and Bridge Standards constant slope barriers and drainage chambers.
22nd Street Bridge Replacement
Chesapeake, Virginia
While working at Clark Nexsen, Al served as the Project Manager/Lead Bridge Designer for the replacement of the 22nd Street overpass bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia, which spans the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The original bridge, built in 1937, was a 794-foot long, fifteen-span reinforced concrete T-beam structure. The project encompassed comprehensive responsibilities, including roadway and bridge structural design, traffic engineering, and the management of subconsultants for geotechnical and stormwater management analysis.
The scope involved demolishing the existing bridge, coordinating with the railroad for permitting, and implementing roadway improvements for better connectivity. The new bridge measures approximately 494 feet and incorporates multimodal transit features, such as bike lanes, sidewalks, and a multiuse path. Traffic signal upgrades were made at the intersection with Poindexter Street, enhancing pedestrian access.
To optimize traffic flow and improve community streetscapes, a detailed traffic study was conducted to inform design decisions. This study assessed traffic counts, turn lane and signal warrants, and included growth rate analyses based on historical data and planned developments. The redesign converted a four-way intersection into a T-intersection, ensuring that new traffic patterns were effectively managed. Overall, the project aims to strengthen the connection between the South Norfolk area and Norfolk, enhancing transportation infrastructure and community accessibility.
East Tevis Street Over I-81
Frederick County, Virginia
The project involves upgrading Tevis Street to connect the eastern and western parts of Winchester, Virginia, divided by Interstate 81. The existing Tevis Street was extended to create a grade-separated overpass, enhancing connectivity. The project also included improvements to three other roadways, centered around a roundabout to unify the area.
During his employment at Clark Nexsen, Al helped design the bridge per Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) specifications, ensuring it could accommodate potential future widening of Interstate 81. The design emphasized economic efficiency, considering material use, constructibility, and long-term maintenance costs.
The construction site was carefully evaluated for crane positioning and bridge girder weight. After analyzing options, a two-span continuous steel plate girder jointless bridge was chosen, supported by semi-integral abutments and multi-column piers, featuring four traffic lanes, two six-foot sidewalks, and a four-foot median. Collaboration with roadway engineers ensured proper clearances and alignments for the bridge over the interstate.
Nansemond Parkway Bridge over N&S Railroad
Suffolk, Virginia
This project is currently under construction. At Clark Nexsen, Al was the Lead Bridge Engineer in- charge of the preliminary design and performing QA/QC of the final design, plans & cost estimates for 3 span (63’-90’63’) prestressed concrete bulb-T bridge continuous for live loads over a skewed (21 degree) railroad tracks.The bridge layouts were governed by critical horizontal & vertical clearances.The project includes design of frame bent piers and semi- integral abutments.
Rte 122 Bridge Replacement over Goose Creek
Bedford County, Virginia
As the Lead Bridge Engineer while at Clark Nexsen, the project involved the replacement of a three-span, 270-foot long steel bridge over Goose Creek in Bedford County, VA. The new structure features a 45-foot wide, 288-foot long prestressed concrete Bulb-T superstructure made continuous for live loads, supported by pile-supported semi-integral backwall abutments and 40-foot high concrete piers on spread footing foundations.
Al and the team were responsible for developing preliminary design alternatives, evaluating six options ranging from replacement on the existing alignment to a relocated bridge. Complex staged construction plans were created to maintain two lanes of traffic throughout the project. Coordination with various disciplines ensured compliance with VDOT standards.
Key tasks included detailed computations for bearing seat elevations to achieve the desired roadway grades, preparing environmental permit sketches, and participating in meetings from pre-scoping to pre-construction. Throughout construction, Al provided technical guidance to resolve conflicts related to abutment footings and beam cambers. The construction was completed in 2021.
Rte 100 (NBL&SBL) Bridge Replacement over Route 11
Dublin, Virginia
During his time at Clark Nexsen, Al was the Lead Structural Engineer responsible for performing a rehabilitation/ replacement study on these twin overpass structures which are experiencing advanced deterioration and have a sub-standard minimum vertical clearance. Based upon life cycle cost and constructibility analyses, the two-span scheme consisting of a superstructure replacement in combination with rehabilitating the existing pier and abutments was recommended as the preferred alternate for the final design. Two phased constructions will be implemented to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction as well as access to NBL Route 11 ramp. Construction completed 2021.
Rte 100 (NBL&SBL) Bridge Replacement over N&S Railroad
Al served as the Lead Structural Engineer, while at Clark Nexsen, who was responsible for the replacement design of four span 200 feet long prestressed concrete bridge over N & S RR. As a phase I contract, responsible for performing preliminary bridge conceptual design alternatives to replace the existing structure. Work included evaluation of six different alternatives ranging from single span to three span multi-girder bridge. Substructures alternatives ranging from integral backwall to integral abutment with MSE walls were investigated to determine the most cost-effective substructure type. Based upon life cycle cost and constructability analyses, 150 feet single span scheme consisting of a steel multi-girder superstructure with integral abutments. Construction completed 2021.
Dublin, Virginia
On-Call Civil Engineering Contract
City of Suffolk, Virginia
As the Lead Structural Engineer at Clark Nexsen, Al was in charge of performing preliminary and final designs for three bridge replacements over freshwater creeks. Responsible for supervising and providing technical direction to design engineers, QC reviews of final designs and plans, as well as attending meetings with the client. Other responsibilities included design coordination with the roadway and geotechnical engineers, and preparation of preliminary bridge conceptual design alternatives and the TS&L report to recommend the most feasible alternate. All three structures consisted of a 54’ long single span prestressed concrete voided slab superstructure supported on single row pile bent abutments with elephant ear wingwalls. Final designs were submitted in December 2017. Structures included: Badger Road over Washington Creek, Simons Drive over Cohoon Creek and Southwestern Boulevard over Chaple Swamp.