BergerWorld: 2nd Quarter 2008

India is the seventh largest country by area and second most populous. One of only two countries with a population over a billion, meeting India's rapidly growing transportation demand is a challenging task. In recent years, Berger has undertaken a number of ambitious assignments throughout the country to improve the nation's transportation network.

In 1998, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) implemented a $71 billion National Highways Development Program to upgrade, rehabilitate and widen more than 66,000 kilometers of highways throughout the country. A major component of this ambitious program included the construction of a 1,400-meter-long cable-stayed bridge over the Chambal River on National Highway 76 of the 3,443-kilometer East-West Corridor, linking Porbandar with Silchar. The bridge will be constructed under a design-build contract by Hyundai (Korea) and Gammon (India), while the joint venture of the Berger Group and COWI will provide consulting services for design review, construction supervision, and operation and maintenance. The structure will include a six-lane, divided carriageway with a 1.5-meter-wide median and a 1.5-meter-wide footpath on each side.

The consultancy Team began the project by conducting reviews of existing designs and specifications to ensure that aesthetics, increased durability and long-term serviceability are the project's foremost priorities. The Team also ensured that the overall design was environmentally sensitive and incorporated state-of-the-art technology. Next, Berger and COWI provided supervision services during the foundation, deck slab, viaduct and approach construction, as well as the cable and pavement work. Finally, the Team will provide operation and maintenance for six years following the completion of construction.

Located in western India, Maharashtra is the country's third largest and second most populated state, as well as its most industrialized and urbanized, contributing 15 percent of the country's industrial output and 12 percent of its GDP. Because trains are the country's preferred mode of transportation, railways cover most of Maharashtra. In order to serve the state's growing needs, Berger is currently designing a 522-meter-long rail bridge/flyover at Hingoli Gate and a 560-meter-long bridge across River Godavari at Nanded in Maharashtra.

Berger's duties include reviewing available right-of-way documents, soil investigations and topographic surveys and preparing detailed designs and Bills of Quantities. The Team carried out final designs of the superstructure, substructure, foundations and bearings; prepared drawings; and evaluated a number of cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing alternatives. Finally, the Team prepared reports detailing how the designs comply with Indian Road Congress and Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways standards and specifications.

The completed rail structure/flyover at Hingoli Gate will include 21 spans, while the new bridge across River Godavari will include 18 spans. Each has two 7.5-meter-wide lanes, and the superstructures will consist of precast, post-tensioned girders, while the substructures will consist of reinforced concrete, circular-type piers resting on pile and open foundations. The approaches will include reinforced earth walls.

Located in northwest India, the state of Punjab is considered to have the nation's finest infrastructure, including a 47,605-kilometer road network, with 1,000 kilometers of national highways connecting all major cities and towns. In an effort to further enhance Punjab's infrastructure, the Berger Group was retained by B. Seenaiah & Co. and C&C Kurali Toll Road Limited to provide design services for the construction of a bridge on the new Kurali Kiratpur Road.

The Berger team first conducted extensive traffic, topographic, hydraulic and soils surveys. Based on the findings, the Team evaluated alternatives and prepared detailed designs for a new bridge taking National Highway No. 21 over the 300-meter-wide Sarsa River. The design included a 10-span arrangement totaling more than 334 meters with a single, 7.5-meter-wide lane for vehicles and a 1.5-meter-wide pedestrian lane. The superstructure will consist of precast, post-tensioned girders, and the substructure will consist of reinforced concrete, circular-type piers resting on caisson foundations.

Located in the Himalayan Mountains, the enchanting state of Jammu & Kashmir is a renowned tourist destination. In an effort to improve the region's transportation network, NHAI is developing the North-South Corridor connecting the capital of Srinagar with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and the East-West Corridor connecting Silchar in Assam with Porbandar in Gujarat, totaling approximately 7,300 kilometers. Under this program, NHAI will upgrade the 66-kilometer, two-lane Udhampur-Banihal section of the National Highway 1A to a 188-kilometer, four-lane, divided-carriageway. NHAI selected the Berger Group to prepare detailed designs for a $31 million viaduct parallel to the Chenab River that would provide a bypass to the nearby town of Ramban and alleviate congestion along the highway. The completed 41-span, 1,230-meter-long viaduct's superstructure will consist of structural steel girders with reinforced concrete cement deck slab and circular piers and wall-type abutments resting on well foundation with two 7.5-meter-wide lanes.

Berger's duties included evaluating the current transportation network; forecasting traffic demand over the next 30 years; conducting environmental studies, including providing recommendations to mitigate potential adverse impacts; and undertaking detailed topographic and field surveys. Next, the Team evaluated alternatives; prepared final designs for all aspects of the work, including bridges, tunnels, overlays, cross-drainage and grade-separated structures; and provided detailed cost estimates.