Three Stantec projects named to Top 10 Bridges by Roads and Bridges Magazine

Stantec’s Bridge Sector has taken three spots (more than any other design firm) on the Top 10 Bridges list, which is released annually by Roads and Bridges Magazine, a leading trade publication focused on transportation infrastructure. The North Metro Rail Line Skyway Bridge in Denver, CO; Wildcat Creek Bridge in Rimrock, WA; and the Woods Memorial Replacement Bridge in Everett and Medford, MA were selected, with the number 6, 7, and 9 spots respectively.

“We’re immensely proud of our bridge designers, and this recognition speaks to the quality of work we deliver on hundreds of projects across the globe,” said Reed Ellis, Vice President and Bridge Sector Lead. “We strive to work with our clients over the long haul and to be their go-to bridge consultants – from design to inspection to maintenance and repair.”

Editors made their selections based on factors such as quality of design and execution, the degree of challenge involved, community impact, and environmental responsibility, among others. Each project selected was deemed to have a high degree of stakeholder cooperation and engagement.

North Metro Rail Line Skyway Bridge (No. 6)
The North Metro Rail line, part of Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) FasTracks program, is a 13-mile electric commuter line designed to provide much-needed rail access to ease a congested commute between Denver’s northern suburbs and the downtown area.

The curvilinear Skyway Bridge is nearly two miles, making it the longest bridge in Colorado. The innovative design, which uses direct fixation techniques, makes for a resilient structure and a smoother ride, with reduced maintenance over the long run.

The new bridge avoids at-grade crossings, which increases safety by limiting interaction with other traffic.

See the story on Roads and Bridges here.

Wildcat Creek Bridge (No. 7)
Wildcat Creek Bridge was an aging structure on US 12, one of just three routes across the Cascade Mountains in rural Washington. When time came to replace the 82-year-old bridge, a traditional design using the standard Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) girder bridge likely would have included the construction of a temporary bridge and a four- to five-month construction schedule.

Instead of using an old model, the Graham/Stantec team used accelerated bridge construction techniques to replace the 150-foot bridge in just 17 days, saving WSDOT $4 million.

The design featured a precast arch culvert structure (engineered by Contech) including foundations, retaining walls, and traffic barriers, which nearly eliminated cast-in-place concrete. The solution minimizes traffic, community, and environmental impacts. The new arch structure also adds stability, maintains natural hydrology and fish habitat, and complements local and regional aesthetics.

See the story on Roads and Bridges here.

Woods Memorial Bridge Replacement (No. 9)
After more than 60 years of use as a well-traveled corridor over the Malden River in Greater Boston, the Woods Memorial Bridge was structurally deficient, functionally obsolete, and in need of constant repairs.

A key component of the bridge replacement, built as part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Accelerated Bridge Program, was improved integration with the surrounding community. The fixed-span replacement bridge includes at-grade shared-use path connections along the banks of the Malden River beneath the bridge.

This provides a series of connections and a major improvement for multimodal transportation services, including a direct connection to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Wellington station.

The creation of additional wetland along the riverbank was an important element to the project, which provides wildlife habitat and leisure space. It will also connect to major mixed-use developments as part of a multi-year urban renewal program, anchoring community improvements for years to come.

See the story on Roads and Bridges here.

“We are always excited to work with clients who embrace innovation and are open to new ideas, and it’s gratifying for us and our clients to have projects recognized,” continued Ellis. “If we can find a way to do something more efficiently, accelerate construction, create aesthetic designs, or make structures more durable then everyone benefits.”

Stantec has been designated a top ten global design firm by Engineering News Record. The firm’s bridge sector operates in 12 countries around the world, with more than 1,000 owners served. For more information, visit: https://www.stantec.com/en/markets/transportation/bridges

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. 

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