3R to the Funding Rescue
Challenging terrain and a limited budget had stalled ODOT's US-412 project in western Oklahoma. They needed a firm that could not only create a solid design, but one that could also help them solve a funding issue.
"The project presented some unique challenges with its deep ravines and limited right of way," said ODOT Division Engineer Ron McDaniel. "With the possibility of underground caverns in the area we tried to limit the earthwork, and some of the existing structures were buried under anywhere from 10 to 40 feet of fill and needed to be replaced due to their poor condition."
Garver partnered with Terracon to use electrical resistivity imaging to better understand what was under the existing embankment to facilitate pipe jacking for drainage structures. Also the project was altered from complete reconstruction to a resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation (3R) for the highway. The 3R approach brought the highway up to modern-day safety standards, but still kept the challenging project under budget.
"After we received the pavement design and special geotechnical requirements, we recognized that project cost was far exceeding the budget," said Project Manager Jenny Sallee. "We met with ODOT to discuss some options to try to get something that could be built with the dollars available and was safer for the traveling public."
"Garver helped develop a plan to accelerate the project time and save a substantial amount of money," McDaniel said. "Both the plan and construction went very well and provided the folks in Northwest Oklahoma with a safe and economical roadway."
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