- Company: C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc.
- Industry: Transportation
- Location: Niceville, Florida
- Expected Completion Date: 08/26/16
SR 123 merges with SR 85 just North of Eglin Air Force base forming the major north/south commuter route in Okaloosa County. The current configuration has a signalized intersection restricting flow during peak commuting hours. The new design will eliminate the signal and provide free flowing commutes in all directions. The interchange will be fully lighted when completed.
What impact does this project have on America?
Because Okaloosa County is split in half by Eglin Air Force Base, SR 85 is the only North/South connector road in Okaloosa County. 20,000 vehicles travel this route every day with most commuting to work on Eglin Air Force Base. This project will reduce the commute time for the vehicles as well as providing a quicker evacuation route during hurricane season. Instead of waiting 2 or 3 cycles to get through a red light, traffic will flow freely in all directions.
What interesting obstacles or unusual circumstances did you overcome to complete the project?
Initial Clearing of the project had to be done by a UXO(Unexploded Ordiance) team due to the location of this project in proximity to old bombing ranges.
What dangers and risks did you encounter, and describe any extraordinary methods used to keep workers safe?
Working on the highway is an everyday dangerous job. The bridge was built in 3 phases with traffic shifts in each phase to allow for safe work area and travel way for the public. Barrier wall was also used during the traffic shifts to provide safety for all.
How did you leverage new technologies to work faster and reduce waste?
We used 3D modeling to perform all grading operations and road base installation. This allowed for increased production as well as high degree of accuracy.
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