Black Hawk County Iowa 58 and Viking Road Interchange

Background

The Foth team was hired to act as the liaison between the Iowa Department of Transportation (IaDOT) and the prime contractor for this multiyear, $40 million federally funded interchange construction project. Work included on-site full-time construction administration and inspection services for grading, PCC pavement, pedestrian facility, drainage, lighting, traffic signal, PPCB bridge, soldier pile retaining wall, and culvert work.

Approach

Project funding required adherence to robust project documentation and record keeping standards. We were one of the first consultants to serve in the role of resident project engineer acting on behalf of the Iowa DOT, responsible for overall construction oversight and administration including quantity tracking, material certifications, RFIs, contract modifications, stockpiles, and pay estimates. Our team also oversaw public engagement efforts with the local businesses in the project vicinity, providing project updates and addressing construction related questions or issues as they arose.

Field inspection staff completed daily inspections of work progress, quantity calculations and tracking, documentation of work activities, and construction materials testing. Our team utilized the Iowa DOT’s construction technology platforms for administration and inspection, including Field Manager/Field Book for construction progress documentation and DocExpress for web-based electronic document management.

Results

The new interchange is located in a commercial area and construction was fast-tracked to minimize business disruption. The contract was structured with two No-Excuse Bonus incentive dates to complete construction prior to holiday traffic. Our team worked collaboratively with the owner, contractor, and all stakeholders to quickly assess challenges, identify solutions, and make decisions to keep construction moving. The contractor met the incentive requirements for both years of construction and the overall project was completed on time to great satisfaction to the IaDOT, City of Cedar Falls, and local businesses.