Contracting crews had to build literally on top of each other in rehabilitating a three-mile section of Interstate 476 in northeast Pennsylvana.

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation's $77.8-million project included complete repaving of the main line in one contract and rehabilitation of six bridges over the Schuylkill River in another, all within the same footprint.

Crews also had to coordinate with Pennsylvania Turnpike contractors performing a widening of the Northeast Extension.

Maintenance of traffic issues was so challenging that PennDOT let a design-build contract for that aspect of the project, with Hill International assisting both contracts as construction manager.

Tight project controls and protocols helped avoid conflicts of overlapping construction access needs and material deliveries. In order to maintain full traffic capacity, designer AECOM used an express-lane concept that retained two lanes of traffic on the roadway under construction, with a third lane shifted to the opposite roadway.

Crews re-used earthwork to create several tall mounds adjacent to the roadway. These served as buffers for local homes and helped the highway blend into the hilly landscape of the region, eliminating expensive disposal costs.

The I-476 contracts were completed on time and within budget, with minimal disruptions to 130,000 daily motorists.

Interstate 476 (Blue Route) Roadway Rehabilitation (SR 0476, Section RDC) Montgomery County, Pa.

Key Players:

General Contractor: Allan A. Myers, Worcester, Pa.

Owner: Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation, Harrisburg, Pa.

Lead Design: AECOM, Philadelphia

Structural & Civil Engineer: AECOM, Philadelphia

Submitted by Hill International Inc.

Click here for link to judges' pick for Best Overall project in Mid-Atlantic region.