BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2004

North Carolina and Virginia have the first and third largest state-maintained highway systems in the United States, and these networks continue to grow. The Berger Group has assisted both the North Carolina and Virginia DOT to upgrade regional networks and design new routes.

Berger is currently assisting the NCDOT in a four-year, $83 million project to improve access in Cumberland County, supervising the construction of a section of the Fayetteville Bypass between I-95 at NC Highway 13 and US 401 and improvements to 17 bridges along the route. This new highway will provide two travel lanes in each direction between I-95 and NC 13 and eventually offer direct access to Fort Bragg from I-95. Under this program, Berger is also preparing highway surveys, materials sampling and providing construction supervision for the expansion of the Cumberland Road to a multi-lane highway; the replacement of bridges over Rockfish Creek, Locks Creek and the Cape Fear River; and the construction of the Fayetteville Outer Loop, connecting I-95 with River Road and Route 130.

In addition to the development of the Fayetteville Bypass, the NCDOT also selected Berger to provide construction supervision for the upgrade of US 220 and I-540 in Montgomery and Richmond Counties. In association with Summit Consulting Engineers, Berger is supervising the improvement of a 17-mile section of US 220. This $65 million highway, part of the I-73/74 corridor, consists of two lanes in each direction constructed on a new alignment. In association with RK+K, Berger is supervising the construction of 5.1 miles of I-540, the Northern Wake Expressway, in Wake County. Berger is also providing preliminary design assistance for the NCDOT as part of the Governor's Moving Ahead Program, an ambitious $700 million highway modernization program. In northern Virginia, Berger worked with the Virginia DOT to widen the Lee Highway. Berger engineers conducted right-of-way studies, completed traffic and alternative interchange studies and developed construction plans to widen the highway to three lanes in each direction. Because this road is home to a number of businesses and provides a key link to I-495, the Berger team worked closely with the community to ensure adequate access during and after construction. Berger also worked closely with public officials to incorporate the improvements into Fairfax County's comprehensive development plan.

As part of the $90 million US Route 58 Corridor Development Program to connect southwestern and southeastern sections of the Commonwealth, the Berger Group was selected to prepare engineering designs, right-of-way and construction plans for the development of the 7.4 mile section, including the Danville Bypass. Berger designed a limited access four-lane divided highway, a diamond interchange with Route 1260, a partial cloverleaf interchange with existing sections of Route 58, and upgraded the interchange between Route 265 and Route 29. During the design phase, the Team conducted traffic analyses and prepared hydraulic and stormwater management design for the highway. The project included the upgrade of 12 bridges, including a major crossing of the Dan River, six bridges over local roads, three highway bridges over Route 58 and a railroad bridge over the new bypass. The project also required relocation of sections of the Norfolk Southern railroad track, the design of two truck weight stations, a major frontage road and the relocation of numerous local roads. Because the southern most portion of the project extends into North Carolina, the Team coordinated the design with the North Carolina DOT. The highway was recently opened to traffic as the "The Archer T. Gammon Highway" in honor of the World War II Medal of Honor recipient from Pittsylvania County.