Garver encourages donations to help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

Thoughts and prayers from across the Garver footprint are focused on Houston, Texas and surrounding areas this week. Hurricane Harvey has driven citizens from their homes, schools, and places of work, and everyone affected faces a long road to recovery.

In assistance with that relief effort, employees of Garver, which has a Houston office along with eight others in Texas, and its corporate giving arm, GarverGives, will be making donations to credible hurricane relief efforts, including the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Garver encourages all to contribute what is available to those outlets and others, by visiting redcross.org and helpsalvationarmy.org.

Learn more about GarverGives by visiting GarverUSA.com/GarverGives.

ODOT decreasing deficient bridges at nation-leading pace; Garver an extension of its staff

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been better than any of its peers at repairing and replacing structurally deficient bridges over the last decade, according to a recent study by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

According to the study, 5,928 of Oklahoma’s 23,528 highway and local bridges had been deemed structurally deficient in 2007, which ranked second highest of all states. By 2016, that number had been reduced to 3,460 deficient bridges, meaning there were 2,468 fewer deficient bridges in 2016 than there were in 2007, accounting for a 41.6 percent reduction in deficient bridges, the largest reduction in the country.

Garver came to Oklahoma in 1993 and has offices in Tulsa and Norman, and is a longtime consultant with ODOT. The company's Transportation Team aided in the reduction of deficient bridges by leading several projects that have provided Oklahoma with new highway bridges.

“Garver and ODOT have had a great working relationship over the years,” said Garver Bridge Team Leader Jason Langhammer. “We’re thrilled to see it making such great progress on these projects that are so important to the daily lives of all Oklahomans, and we’re proud that we’ve played at least a small part in that.”

Examples of Garver’s contributions to ODOT's reduction of deficient bridges include:

Load-posted bridge replacement program

Garver provided design plans for six projects included in ODOT’s load-posted bridge replacement program. The work included survey, grading, drainage, and roadway design, traffic control, hydraulic analysis, geotechnical investigation, and design to replace bridges on offset and existing alignments. The project included replacing highway bridges in three different counties over Big Cedar, Spencer, Gaines, Dry and Mud, Walnut, and Albion Creeks.

Various bridge replacement projects, Ottawa County, Oklahoma

Garver contracted with ODOT to reconstruct three bridges in Ottawa County. The scope included the reconstruction of a rural two-lane highway and bridge over Sycamore Creek, to produce a conceptual design study for the interchange and bridge at the U.S. 60/U.S. 59 interchange, and to replace the U.S. 69 bridge over Tar Creek in Ottawa County. Design services included survey, bridge hydraulic analysis, roadway and traffic design, and bridge design. In replacing State Highway 10 over Sycamore Creek, Garver provided bridge hydraulic analysis, roadway and traffic design, and bridge design, while upgrading the bridge to 12-foot lanes and eight-foot shoulders. Garver also provided a preliminary engineering study, roadway, traffic, and bridge design for the U.S. 60 bridge over U.S. 59.

Various bridge replacement projects, Grant County, Oklahoma

Garver provided a preliminary engineering and final design services for three bridge replacement projects in Grant County. U.S. 60 over Pond Creek was replaced with a curved four-span, prestressed beam structure, U.S. 81 over Polecat Creek and one unnamed creek was replaced with a three-span beam bridge, and U.S. Highway 60 bridge over Boggy Creek was widened for 12-foot driving lanes with eight-foot paved shoulders.

Interstate 44 interchange at 165th East Avenue, Phase 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Garver provided design services for one mile of Interstate 44 over N 165th East Avenue in Tulsa, which included grading, drainage, surfacing, erosion control, traffic control, bridge widening, traffic signal warrants, level of service analysis, highway signage, and pavement markings. Garver also worked with ODOT to determine future roadway capacity requirements for 165th East Avenue and surrounding roadways.

State Highway 51 over Cottonwood Creek, Creek County, Oklahoma

Garver provided design services for ODOT's first accelerated bridge construction (ABC) project that was required to match the existing bridge and roadway alignments. Two bridge alternates were designed for final plans, after which a transverse, sliding/skidding bridge move was selected to replace the existing bridge on the existing alignment after it was constructed on temporary supports adjacent to the existing structure. A track system was used to move the bridge into position atop new piers and abutments, allowing the existing bridge to stay in service while the new bridge was being constructed.

I-244 multimodal bridge over the Arkansas River, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Garver assisted ODOT in preparing conceptual design data for inclusion in a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application. After selection, Garver prepared a preliminary engineering report, preliminary engineering plans, and final plans, specifications, and estimates within an accelerated nine-month schedule. And while not structurally deficient, the project replaced what had been a structurally deteriorating bridge. The completed I-244 westbound multimodal bridge that spans the Arkansas River in Tulsa, includes four lanes of highway traffic on one level, and one High Speed Rail Line and pedestrian traffic on another level. The eastbound bridge is currently under construction.

To learn what Garver’s Transportation Team can do for you, visit GarverUSA.com.

Broadway Bridge finalist for national AASHTO awards

In being named a finalist for an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) America’s Transportation Award, a Garver-led project nominated for its use of innovation is being considered for the top transportation project over the last year.

The Broadway Bridge over the Arkansas River, designed by Garver for the Arkansas Department of Transportation, is one of 12 finalists for the 2017 competition. It is eligible for the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Award, which will be decided by an online vote.

Votes can be cast once per day through Sept. 21. Along with AASHTO, the award is sponsored by AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Opened to traffic in March 2017, the new Broadway Bridge connecting Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas, replaces one that had been in use since 1923, providing an improved route for up to 24,000 vehicles per day through the state’s most populated area.

“In almost a century of existence, Garver has been based in both Little Rock and North Little Rock, so we took very seriously this project that connects those two cities,” said Garver Bridge Design Manager John Ruddell. “It was essential for us to not only minimize closure time, but to deliver a project in which both cities could be proud.”

Garver provided design services for the replacement bridge, which was designed for cost effectiveness and minimal closure time. Twin 448-foot basket-handle network tied arches are its most visible feature, and it includes four traffic lanes, and pedestrian and bike lanes. Garver also provided design services for the roadway approaches and provided traffic analysis.

The American Transportation Awards are in its 10^th year, and recognizes bridges for Quality of Life/Community Development, Best Use of Technology and Innovation, and Operations Excellence. The winner of the Grand Prize and the People’s Choice awards receive $10,000 for a charity or transportation-related scholarship of its choosing.

Visit GarverUSA.com to find out what Garver's Bridge Team can do for you.

Garver basketball team gathers to aid charity

Engineers from Garver offices in three different states gathered to participate in a charity basketball tournament the effects of which will be felt all the way to central America.

Garver Project Manager Matthew Youngblood, who is on Garver’s Transportation Team in its Tulsa, Oklahoma office, was joined by colleagues from Garver’s Dallas, Texas; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Norman, Oklahoma offices to form a basketball team that participated in a tournament in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma recently. The Garver team competed against 10 other teams from A-E industry companies in the tournament organized to benefit Potter’s House, a Wisconsin-based charity that aims to curb poverty in Guatemala by providing community centers, meals, and education programs.

And while the Garver team did not bring home a trophy – that went to a team from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a Garver client – Garver’s team helped raise more than $3,000 for Potter’s House.

“It was rewarding to see how many engineers from across the Garver footprint were so eager to participate in such a fun and worthwhile event,” Matthew said. “We all had a great time competing with our peers, and it meant even more considering it was for such a great cause.”

Stodola chairs, discusses NSPE task force

To identify and address immediate areas in which the practice of professional engineering can adapt to evolving business models, the National Society of Professional Engineers created the Professional Engineering Task Force in 2016. Using the key theories, questions and, concepts described in “The Future of the Professions: How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts," written by Richard and Daniel Susskind and published in 2016, among other resources, the task force is analyzing the current state of engineering.

Garver Project Manager Adam Stodola, who serves on the Transportation Team in the Kansas City, Missouri office, is the Chair of the task force and recently presented at the NSPE Professional Engineers Conference in Atlanta. There, Adam discussed the task force's goals and processes while it identifies opportunities, threats, and methods to expand the professional engineer’s charge to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The task force also aims to examine other regulated professions to find applicable comparisons and opportunities to learn from experiences.

“Of the many topics being evaluated, I believe that licensure and emerging technology are among the most important,” Adam said. “The license is the basis of what the professional engineer does and without it, our profession becomes extremely minimalized.  We must also be aware of emerging technologies and how they will directly impact our profession. I wanted the audience to see the threats to licensure and understand their implications and to be thinking about how technology will impact them moving forward.”

The task force will gather additional information from key stakeholders over the next year to develop a comprehensive report to be presented at the 2018 Professional Engineers Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Spirit of Garver finalists named for 2017

Two Garver employees are selected each year for the Spirit of Garver Award – one of the company’s highest honors given to those who show a passion and dedication for their profession and prove to be outstanding advocates for the company’s mission. One employee from Garver’s technical departments, and one from its administrative departments, receive the award, which provides company-wide acknowledgement and a cash bonus.

Nominations are made by Garver employees and then a selection committee narrows that list to a selection of finalists. Winners will be announced in October.

The following are this year’s finalists:

Administrative:

Betty McPherson is a construction services administrator on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Construction Services Team. She has been with the company for five years.

Jamie White is a print design lead on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Marketing Team. She has been with the company for three years.

Edoardo Luna is a regional finance leader on our Frisco, Texas Finance Team. He has been with the company for one year.

Technical:

Kaylee Dusek is a project engineer on our Frisco, Texas Water Team. She has been with the company for two years.

Mark Hammons is a project manager on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Transportation Team. He has been with the company for two years.

Joe Kaminski is a project engineer on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Facilities Team. He has been with the company five years.

Mark McPherson is a senior construction observer on our Overland Park, Kansas Construction Services Team. He has been with the company for one year.

Ryan Mountain is a senior environmental scientist/specialist on our Faytteville, Arkansas Transportation Team. He has been with the company for 11 years.

Josh Peters is a senior designer on our Kansas City, Missouri Aviation Team. He has been with the company for four years.

Andy Pruitt is a project manager on our Fayetteville, Arkansas Water Team. He has been with the company for nine years.

Adam Roberson is a project manager on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Aviation Team. He has been with the company for 11 years.

Marty Satterfield is a project surveyor on our North Little Rock, Arkansas Survey Team. He has been with the company for 12 years.

Andrew Snyder is a project manager on our Tulsa, Oklahoma Transportation Team. He has been with the company for seven years. 

Garver continues expansion, opens South Texas office

In an effort to deliver infrastructure improvements to even more communities, Garver is excited to announce the opening of its new South Texas office in Harlingen, Texas. Garver now has 23 offices spread between 10 states, including nine in Texas.

South Texas Business Leader Richard Correa and Senior Design Manager Ernesto Flores will be among those based in the office that will join eight other Garver offices in servicing Texas clients. Garver has the capability of serving multiple disciplines from the South Texas office. It will combine the expertise and familiarity of the area held by Correa and Flores, both of whom have worked in the Rio Grande Valley for more than a decade, with Garver’s decorated Water Team that includes almost 100 engineers and experts spread across the country.

“I’ve lived in this area most of my life, and have dedicated my career to improving the water needs in the Rio Grande Valley,” Richard said. “I am excited to team with Garver’s plethora of experts to realize our limitless possibilities in improving the water quality and sustainability for the citizens here.”

Among other projects in the area, Garver is currently working with the Laguna Madre Water District in Port Isabel, Texas.

The opening of the new office, located at 1906 East Tyler Ave., Suite D, continues Garver’s expansion into Texas. Along with Harlingen, Garver services clients in multiple disciplines from Athens, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Houston, Round Rock, and San Antonio.

To find out what Garver’s Harlingen office can do for you, call 956-734-2375.