Enhancing Safety and Compliance in Bridge Infrastructure Construction
TRC provided Construction Quality Assurance (QA) services for a $350 million design-build contract, part of the larger $1.2 billion Van Wyck Expressway (VWE) Capacity Improvement program. This critical infrastructure initiative aimed to improve access to John F. Kennedy International Airport by upgrading the VWE I-678 corridor from the Kew Gardens Interchange to JFK in Queens, NY.
Challenge
Contract 1 addressed long-standing operational, geometric and structural deficiencies along this critical corridor. To accommodate future high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in both directions, the project included:
- Reconstruction and modification of nine overpass bridges between Hillside Avenue and 133rd Avenue
- Relocation of key exit ramps:
- The northbound VWE exit ramp to Linden Boulevard
- The southbound VWE exit ramp to the westbound Belt Parkway
Given the complexity of the construction, maintaining traffic flow on NYC’s busiest expressways, and rigorous QA and safety oversight, were essential.
Solution
On behalf of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), TRC delivered comprehensive QA services to ensure the design-build team met contractual, safety and regulatory requirements. Our responsibilities included:
- Conducting audits and inspections to confirm that the design-build team followed prescribed processes
- Monitoring compliance with NYSDOT Design-Build Section 112 and the project’s QC and QA standards
- Ensuring alignment with the Design-Build Request for Proposal requirements
Key QA tasks included:
- Detailed inspections of bridge modifications and ramp relocations
- On-site field testing of construction materials and processes
- Data collection to support monthly and final estimates
- Verification of As-Built Plans
- Spot checks of the design-build team’s construction inspection subconsultant for contract compliance
Results
TRC’s QA oversight supported the successful execution of major safety measures and construction milestones, including:
- Installation of overhead bracket platforms and demolition shielding to protect live traffic on the VWE
- Demolition of the center pier and stone facing removal from the Liberty Avenue overhead bridge abutment backwall
Our team worked to ensure construction quality, enhance public safety and support the timely and efficient advancement of this vital infrastructure upgrade.
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