United Consulting

ACEC Indiana Recognized Two United Projects With Engineering Excellence Awards

The Results Are In ...

United entered two projects in the ACEC Indiana Engineering Excellence Awards 2021 competition and has been notified that this year’s entries have been selected for an HONOR AWARD and a MERIT WARD. A virtual awards ceremony is scheduled for April to recognize all award entries and announce this year’s Grand Project Award winner.

United Consulting

HONOR AWARD

I-65 Southeast Indiana – Design Build Best Value (DBBV)

The $143 million I-65 Southeast Indiana project was a Design-Build Best Value (DBBV) procurement. The project reconstructed and added travel lanes to I-65 from US 50 to SR 58 for approximately 14 miles and structural SMA overlay on I-65 from SR 58 to south of SR 46 for approximately four miles. The project included the widening of nine twin mainline structures, one latex modified concrete very early strength overlay twin mainline structures, the rehabilitation of seven overpass structures, and new ITS infrastructure with drainage improvements.

United Consulting

MERIT AWARD

Monon Trail over SR 32 & Future Tournament Trail Drive

This project, sponsored by the city of Westfield through a Federal Grant, included the construction of a seven-span pedestrian bridge carrying the Monon Trail over SR 32 and a future extension of Tournament Trail Drive.  The bridge provides a safe crossing over SR 32 for trail users to enjoy the Monon Trail and improves connectivity to the Grand Park Sports Campus and the Grand Junction Park and Plaza which is currently under construction in Downtown Westfield, Indiana.
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Congratulations United!

August 24, 2020 l UPDATE

On Monday, August 24th, The Indiana Chamber of Commerce revealed the rankings for the Best Places to Work in Indiana Companies for 2020.

United ranked 16 out of 40 companies included in the Medium Companies (75-249 U.S. employees) Company / Primary Indiana Location category.

Click to see the complete list of 2020 Best Places to Work in Indiana in order of rank.

May 4, 2020 l ORIGINAL POST

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce  (ICC) announced United Consulting has once again been selected as one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana (BPWI), placing in the Medium Companies (75-249 employees) category.  Selected companies will learn their specific placement ranking within their appropriate category during an awards dinner at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College on June 4th.

The BPWI is an annual competition hosted by the ICC, in an effort to recognize outstanding companies that foster and promote a positive employee culture which is evident through the company’s appreciation and value shown toward each employee. The results are determined based on anonymous surveys which are submitted directly to a third-party survey company by employees. 

United has been selected as Best Places to Work in Indiana ten times and entered into the BPWI Hall of Fame in 2014. Hall of Fame companies are those that have been named a Best Place to Work in Indiana at least 60% of the time in the program’s history.

Click here to read about the Best Places to Work in Indiana on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce website.

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United Consulting

Discover the Dos & Don’ts of Detention With Eric Harned

Ever wonder about the fascinating world of detention and how it affects the overall transportation design of a project?

United Consulting

This year’s Annual Civil Engineering Professional Development Seminar (CEPDS) will be fully virtual beginning November 18th (Wednesday) through November 19th (Thursday) and United’s own Detention Design Guru Eric Harned, EI will be presenting on the Dos & Don’ts of Detention Design on Day 2 (Thursday) of the conference beginning at 10:55 am.

For more information: 35th Annual CEPDS Website

Download the full conference agenda : CEPDS Virtual Conference (November 18-19) Agenda

United Consulting
United Consulting
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I-65 SE Corridor — Perfect Day for a Ribbon Cutting!

September 8, 2020 l Seymour, IN

INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness, local government officials, and E&B Paving Area Manager Spencer Coe hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony at the northbound weigh station near Seymour on Tuesday, September 8th to officially open the I-65 Southeast Indiana corridor between Seymour and Columbus. The project is substantially complete with the exception of the SR 11 Interchange which was added to the project scope after the project had already begun construction.

The $143 million, Best Value Design Build project between I-65 between Exit 50 (US 50) and Exit 64 (SR 58) transformed 14 miles of the original four-lane facility into a six-lane facility to improve travel and safety conditions for motorists. Seventeen bridges, eight twin bridges carrying mainline I-65 over rivers and creeks, two twin bridges over railroads, and seven bridge overpasses of I-65 were also included in the project.

The E&B Paving / United Team was selected as the Preferred Proposer in May 2017 after going through a rigorous submittal process and proposing a solid, well thought-out plan that exceeded INDOT’s scoring criteria, providing several added-value elements to the project scope.

Kudos to E&B Paving on your exceptional work in providing extra-smooth pavement for the project!

 
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I-65 Added Travel Lanes in Boone County

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I-65 Added Travel Lanes in Boone County

Client Indiana Department of
Transportation (INDOT),
Boone County

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Project Description:  Design/Build project for the reconstruction and widening of 12.8 miles of I-65 between I-865 and US 52 included:  seven partial interchange reconstructions; pavement widening; added travel lanes; pavement reconstruction; retaining walls; local road improvements; four bridge replacements; seven bridge rehabilitations; CSX Railroad bridge replacement, CSX Railroad track re-alignment; signing; wetland mitigation; and transportation management plan.

This two-phase project involves adding travel lanes to I-65 from the I-865 interchange to US 52 just north of Lebanon. Phase 1 is a Design/Build project that involves adding one travel lane in each direction from I-865 to CR 100 and milling and resurfacing the existing lanes. Phase 2 is a Design/Build project that involves adding one travel lane in each direction and a full reconstruction of the existing pavement.

United Consulting served as managers of the field survey for this project. This included coordination with an aerial survey consultant and two additional ground survey consultants and performing a great deal of the ground supplemental survey, as well as providing ground and aerial control for the entire corridor. When additional pavement elevations were required during design, United Consulting coordinated with the INDOT district and traffic control consultant to collect this vital information overnight on this highly-traveled interstate.

The environmental services required by this project included the completion of a Level 3 Categorical Exclusion.  Major environmental services investigated during the completion of this documentation included cultural resources investigations, noise analysis, phase I and phase II investigations, and a wetland determination and delineation.  The project also resulted in coordination with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the US Army Corps of Engineers due to project impacts upon jurisdictional waters.  The project resulted in a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a Regional General Permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers and three Construction in a Floodway Permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.  The project also required the completion of a Cemetery Development Plan due to construction disturbance within 100.0 feet of a nearby cemetery.

Approximate Project Cost: $100,000,000

Breadth of Services Provided:  Development of Project Scope and Engineer’s Report, Topographic Survey, Environmental Services, Roadway Design, Bridge Design, ITS Design, Specifications, Utility Coordination, Railroad Coordination, Regulatory Permit Acquisition,  Right-of-Way Engineering, and Land Acquisition

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City of Sullivan Wastewater Treatment Plant

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City of Sullivan Wastewater Treatment Plant

Client City of Sullivan, Indiana

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Project Description:  The City of Sullivan found itself involved with Enforcement Action with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The existing Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant could not comply with its upcoming NPDES Limits.  United Consulting evaluated the existing facility and prepared the required Water Quality Standards Compliance Plan for the City. A new mechanical wastewater treatment plant was proposed and the Preliminary Engineering Report required for the State Revolving Fund Loan Program was approved.  United Consulting also assisted the City in obtaining a $500,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Rural Affairs. The project is completed and operating within the City’s NPDES Permit Requirements.

Approximate Project Cost:  $5,500,000

Breadth of Services Provided:  Planning, Survey, Preliminary Engineering, Design Engineering, and Construction Administration

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Indianapolis Cultural Trail

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Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Client City of Indianapolis
Department of Public
Works

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On November 15, 2012, the United Consulting/Rundell Ernstberger Asociates, LLC team received the highest honor at the 35th annual Monumental Affairs Awards Ceremony.  The team was awarded the Monumental Award for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail:  A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick.  The Monumental Award is the highest honor presented at this annual event sponsored by the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce.  United Consulting also received an Honor Award for the Indianapolis Cultural Trail project in the Engineering category.

Project Description:  An urban bike and pedestrian path connecting together five downtown cultural districts and the entire greenways system.

This project constructed eight miles of new shared-use paths and sidewalks in and around downtown Indianapolis highlighting adjacent cultural districts, incorporating art into public spaces, and emphasizing green and context sensitive design. Every intersection required careful consideration of the interactions between vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle traffic.

The project was a collaborative effort by the City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works and Central Indiana Community Foundation.

United’s responsibilities included the design of detailed signing and marking plans, grading plans that included over 13,000 individual spot elevations and drainage design that included heavy usage of storm water planters to help reduce runoff into the City’s combined sewer system.

Approximate Project Cost:  $40,000,000

Breadth of Services Provided: Transportation Engineering and Utility Coordination

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I-69 and 106th Street Interchange

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I-69 and 106th Street Interchange

Client Indiana Department of
Transportation(INDOT)

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Project Description:  This multi-agency project with INDOT, City of Fishers, and Hamilton County provided a new interchange on I-69 at 106th street that has served as a catalyst for economic development while reducing congestion along the busy I-69 corridor. The purpose of the project was to create a new access point to I-69 and improve the traffic operations of the adjacent interchanges at 96th Street and 116th Street. United was selected and worked through the evaluation of the different interchange alternatives. The chosen alternative for the interchange featured a two-lane, oval-shaped roundabout on 106th Street over I-69 including ramps to and from both directions of the interstate. Two separate two-lane bridges carry one direction of traffic. The westbound traffic bridge on the north side of 106th Street was also designed to accommodate pedestrians.

Approximate Construction Cost:  $21,000,000

Breadth of Services Provided: Traffic Counting, Traffic Analysis, Road Design, Bridge Design, Hydraulics, Pavement Design, Utility Coordination, Regulatory Permits, Right-of-Way Engineering, and Land Acquisition

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Columbus State Street Connection

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Columbus State Street Connection

Client City of Columbus

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Project Description: The State Street Connection Project serves as an initiative to encourage economic growth and development within East Columbus by reconnecting it with Downtown Columbus. The project created a wider side path along the north side of State Street from Central Avenue to Mapleton Street and also included significant architectural enhancements to the Haw Creek Bridge, the incorporation of new greenspaces, and the addition of sculptural elements along the path. Consistent with the City’s branding scheme, the sculptural elements and crosswalks incorporate the Dancing Cs. A new gateway feature was constructed at the intersection of Central Avenue, delineating the entrance into East Columbus and providing an upgraded connection to the Columbus People Trail.

Approximate Project Cost: $4,287,000

Breadth of Services Provided: Topographical Survey, Right-of-Way Engineering, Civil Engineering Design, and Project Management

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I-69 Major Moves 2020 Expansion Project

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I-69 Major Moves 2020 Expansion Project

Client Milestone Contractors, L.P.
INDOT

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Project Description: The Design-Build Best Value contract to I-69 created an added travel lane in each direction to the median between State 37 Road (Exit 205) and State Road 38 (Exit 219) and a southbound lane along the shoulder between 116th Street and the new interchange at the 106th Street exit ramp.  The I-69 and Campus Parkway was converted from a traditional diamond to diverging diamond interchange.  The project widened and rehabilitated five twin bridges on I-69 and reconstructed three overpass bridges.

The state of Indiana and INDOT have a legacy of delivering Design-Build projects through a fixed scope and low bid procurement process.  The I-69 Major Moves 2020 built on this legacy and implemented the first Design-Build Best Value project procurement delivered by INDOT.  During this procurement, the project was broken into segments for evaluation which could be constructed for a fixed budget.  Additional value in the selection process was given to more completed segments.  The process allowed for elements of the scope to be changed if it was demonstrated the end product was as good or better than the original scope.

The budget established for the project was $85 million.  Additional value was recognized for being able to deliver extended length of added travel lanes to I-69.  IFA recognized the proposal delivered an extended design life for the pavement, rehabilitation of additional structures and added widening accomplished 18 percent more than was estimated within the $85 million budget.  The additional value was accomplished through:

  • The team developed efficiencies for Milestone Contractors through better maintenance of traffic which allowed for greater production.  The rehabilitation of the existing lanes was completed during nighttime lane closures.  Once rehabilitation was constructed, the widening for the added travel lanes was completed behind temporary concrete barriers separating traffic from construction.  The separation created increased safety for the traveling public and construction workers.  The increased construction production also resulted in the delivery of additional length of added travel lanes on I-69.  
  • The largest innovation was the pavement design which maximized keeping the existing pavement in place and the new widened pavement section.
  • The rehabilitated pavement minimized milling of recently surfaced pavement to only what was needed to create a continuous 2% cross slope.  It resulted in keeping more of the existing pavement and resulted in a 25% increase in pavement design life. 
  • The pavement widening consisted of a 14-inch HMA pavement section that exceeded the functional and structural performance thresholds.  When combined with the proposed rehabilitation strategy, the total tonnage of HMA required per linear foot is reduced from 6.41 Tons/lft to 5.03 Tons/lft, resulting in a 27% increase in the length of interstate that can be improved. 

Approximate Project Cost:  $95,000,000

Breadth of Services Provided by UNITED: Topographical Survey, Roadway Design, Bridges Design, Drainage Design, Signing Design, Signals Design, and Lighting Design

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