Emergency Type A: The Power of Roadway Engineering Experience AND Collaboration
In late 2022, Environmental Design Group was contracted to perform a Feasibility Study for a section of State Route 531 in Ashtabula County abutting Lake Erie. Soon after, it was clear that what began as an information gathering report with long-term road design solutions was spiraling into an “all hands on deck” Emergency Type A repair effort to secure a rapidly failing roadway.
Urgent Response to SR 531 Embankment Failure
On November 30, 2022, ODOT District 4 closed SR 531 to traffic due to a failure of the embankment occurring within 10 feet of the roadway. It was gravely apparent that to prevent further damage and a lengthier closure, the team would need to come together quickly to find an emergency construction solution and execute the repair.
Emergency Construction Closure Demands Rapid Collaboration
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) reached out to contractors to determine who could respond with what equipment and materials, while EDG began the road design solution. Subsurface soil testing information as deep as 50 feet would be needed to determine design opportunities and constraints, such as the resistance the soils could provide.
ODOT worked with the contractor and EDG to report soil information and the availability of materials. Within hours, initial roadway design concepts were presented, and within three days, there was sufficient design agreement among all parties to allow the contractor to begin to drive sheeting.
Accelerated Timeline Achieved Through Seamless Collaboration
Thirteen days after the road closure, the contractor was on site and ready to begin construction. A timeline almost unheard of in the industry. All parties, including ODOT, the contractor, and EDG, were in constant communication about the progression of all design elements (not exclusively the wall), similar to a design-build process, throughout construction.
Maximizing Materials to Address Additional Concerns
At the completion of the Emergency Type A effort, extra sheet pile material and equipment time allowed ODOT to address an adjacent area of concern.
After consulting with the design team, ODOT directed the contractor to place the additional material at the next pressing area of concern for slope instability.
The final outcome of the roadway engineering included new sheet pile wall placed, drainage improvements to prevent further deterioration of the slope, and safety improvements associated with approximately 300 linear feet of roadway.
Experience and Teamwork Drive Future-Focused Road Design Solutions
Through the success of this collaboration, ODOT District 4 was able to seek PROTECT funds to be used to engage the team to design and produce construction documents for 2,200 feet of sheet pile wall to address other embankment instability concerns within the study area and avoid future emergency construction. This project was authorized, designed, signed, and filed in the central office within only six weeks – a true testament to the power of experience and collaboration.
Partner with EDG for Expert Transportation Planning & Engineering Solutions
When rapid response, expert design, and seamless collaboration matter most, Environmental Design Group delivers. Contact us today to learn how our experienced transportation planning & engineering team can support your infrastructure challenges—from emergency construction repairs to long-term resiliency projects.