news

ms consultants, inc.

notes
engineers, architects, planners

The Future of Water for the City of Columbus

New reservoir projects will satisfy current water demands and in the future serve an additional 200,000 central Ohioans.
See story starting on page 2.

Also in this issue

Columbus South Innerbelt wins ACEC Award ... 6 Rehabilitated Bridge Dedicated ... 8 YSU STEM Study Completed ... 10 ms Supports STEM ... 11 ms 50th Anniversary Update ... 12

talentedpeople ... exceptionalservice ... successfulsolutions

A new water supply for central Ohio

This aerial view shows the R-2 reservoir under construction in May 2013. With a footprint of 850 acres, it will impound more than 9.3 billion gallons of water at the normal pool. The embankment (dam) that forms the reservoir is almost five miles long and will be the longest dam in Ohio.

The city of Columbus public water system provides drinking water to Columbus, Ohio, and 22 communities in the metropolitan region from its three water treatment plants, which have a combined capacity of 240 million gallons per day (mgd). The distribution system, which consists of more than 3,600 miles of waterlines, numerous booster stations and storage tanks, serves approximately 1.1 million people. In recent years, severe droughts have occurred in many parts of the United States, resulting in the drastic curtailment of nonessential water uses and, in some instances, water rationing. Rationing occurred in central Ohio during a severe drought in the Midwest in 1987-88 when Columbuss largest reservoir (Hoover) was within 50 days of depletion. City leaders realized that additional water supplies were needed, and in 1989 initiated a study called Water Beyond 2000. That study evaluated several options to supply the additional water needed to meet central Ohios growing demands, including on-stream reservoirs, upground reservoirs, quarries and groundwater. Public input was gathered during evaluation of the options. Completed in 1998, the study recommended developing additional groundwater wells for the Parsons Avenue Water Plant, and to construct three upground reservoirs within the Scioto River watershed to augment the existing OShaughnessy and Griggs reservoirs. They serve as the raw water supply for the Dublin Road Water Plant located some 30 miles downstream. More than 2,500 acres of land in northwest Delaware County needed for the three reservoirs was purchased during the next several years. In 2005, the city of Columbus selected ms consultants to conduct detailed investigations and prepare a preliminary design report outlining an implementation plan for all three reservoirs, as well as the associated pumping and raw water transmission facilities. ms developed a longrange, multiple-phase strategy to provide an adequate and dependable raw water supply to the citys Dublin Road Water Plant for current and future use, as completion of all three reservoirs will provide an additional safe yield of at least 53 mgd during a 50-year drought condition. More recent studies, including the City of Columbus Comprehensive Water Master Plan, have reinforced the need for these improvements. So what is an upground reservoir? It is an engineered water basin, separate, or off-stream of its water source. These reservoirs are typically comprised of earthen embankment walls and a clay-lined bottom, and are classified as a dam by regulators. 3
(Continued on next page.)

Unlike on-stream reservoirs which receive runoff from an upstream watershed, water must be pumped from a nearby river and directed to an upground reservoir. Water stored in the reservoir is then released for use during drought or prolonged dry periods. When sizing the reservoirs for Columbus, the safe yield of the existing water supplies had to be evaluated. The city has developed its water supplies using the concept that the 1:50 safe yield, or the available water from water sources during a 50 year drought, be adequate A new pump station was built next to the Scioto River to divert water to meet or exceed projected potable to the reservoir as needed. water demands. A major benefit of this project is that it will assist another major water utility north of Columbus. During a prior settlement agreement regarding the issue of water boundaries, it was decided that the upground reservoirs would also support the Del-Co Water Company, Inc., which supplies water to much of Delaware County. Under this settlement, Del-Co is participating in the cost of construction and operations. Construction began on the first reservoir (known as R-2) in May 2011. R-2 has a footprint of 850 acres and will impound more than 9.3 billion gallons of water at the normal pool. When all three reservoirs are completed they will hold approximately 18.3 billion gallons. The embankment that forms R-2 is about five miles in length and ranges in height from 35-45 feet. When filled with water, its size and unique design will make it the largest single upground reservoir Ohio, and the largest synthetically lined reservoir in the United States. Due to the presence of shallow sand and gravel deposits overlying karst limestone geology and high groundwater in the area, the reservoir bottom was constructed using 37 million square feet of a polypropylene geomembrane overlying 18 inches of Compacted Clay Liner, and protected with geotextile and 18 inches of cover soil. This composite bottom liner design will result in negligible seepage of stored water into the underlying karst limestone beneath the reservoir, which minimizes the potential for formation of sinkholes or cavities in this type of geology. It was anticipated that dewatering activities required during the liner installation would lower groundwater levels for extended periods well beyond the project work limits, and such conditions could adversely affect nearby residential and agricultural water supplies. The project team identified and assisted in the execution of a multi-step, proactive program to address this issue. 4

First, a pre-construction assessment program was initiated during the design phase, with more than 260 residential and agricultural wells surveyed to determine the condition, quantity and quality of the water in those wells before construction dewatering began. Local residents were provided with a city representative to contact should they experience operational problems with their well during construction. Once contacted by a homeowner, the representative conducted a site visit to investigate current well condition and water levels in relation to the pre-construction assessment information. When data indicated that the dewatering activities caused operational problems or a well to go dry, the city directed the construction contractor to remedy the impact by providing temporary, potable water to the affected residence, modifying the existing well or drilling a new well. A drainage system utilizing two-stage ditches with underlying storm sewers was installed around the perimeter of the reservoir to intercept numerous agricultural field tiles and direct surface runoff around the reservoir embankments. The perimeter ditch system not only preserved existing surface and subsurface drainage patterns, but also qualified as a post-construction stormwater best management practice, since it will act as a vegetated filter reducing the amount of total suspended solids carried by the stormwater flow and ultimately discharged to the Scioto River. The need to relocate Ottawa Creek was eliminated by adjusting the configuration of the northern embankment. Some wetlands present on the site could not be avoided and the city was obligated to mitigate for those wetlands. Although nearby state routes were designed to accommodate them, the significant number of vehicles carrying heavy loads needed for construction had a high probability of damaging most county or township roads in the project area. So, a limited number of these roadways were established as dedicated haul routes for use by construction vehicles not only for the reservoir, but also for the new pump station on the Scioto River nearly four miles away and a 72inch raw water transmission main linking them. The existing pavement was strengthened through pavement reclamation or reconstruction before construction vehicles began using them, and will receive new asphalt at the conclusion of the project. Contractors were penalized when drivers delivering products or materials to/from the project work sites were observed traveling on roadways not authorized as dedicated haul routes.

The second component of the initial project was construction of a new intake and pump station adjacent to the Scioto River to divert water from the river to R-2 and the other reservoirs when they are constructed. The pump station is equipped with four vertical turbine style pumps that can each deliver 40 million gallons of water per day to fill the reservoirs. To build up a pool of water in the Scioto River, intake and wet well to provide adequate pump submergence, a 152-foot inflatable weir was designed and constructed in the Scioto River. The weir will be inflated during times of high flow so the pump station can be activated to fill the upground reservoir, and will remain deflated at other times and lay flat in the bottom of the river. Federal and state regulators required that no construction occur within the Scioto River during spawning season April 15 to June 30 and that operation of the proposed inflatable weir be limited to two successive weeks during this period. Additionally, an upstream low-head dam on the river near Prospect, Ohio, was removed as a mitigation condition to facilitate construction of the new inflatable weir. The design solutions implemented in response to these regulatory requirements will not only improve in-stream water quality, but also minimize impacts to aquatic organisms and allow migration upstream to foster redevelopment of species in the upper reaches of the Scioto River. Even though public access and recreational activities such as fishing and boating will not be permitted on R-2 because of the risk of potential damage to the liner system, recreational opportunities are included as part of the overall project. This includes construction of an adjacent park in conjunction with Preservation Parks of Delaware County that will provide passive recreational activities such as walking, running, biking, picnicking and a natural playground area for children. Additionally, a portage was built that can be used by canoeists when the inflatable weir is raised, and a new canoe access point was constructed downstream of the weir near the confluence of Ottawa Creek and the Scioto River. Currently, local fire departments in the area must withdraw water from the Scioto River or nearby ponds to fill their tanker trucks during fire runs. The Thompson Township Trustees asked if the local fire departments could access stored water in the reservoirs to improve response time and refill tanker trucks. In response, several non-potable hydrants with appropriate hose connections will be installed along the Phase 1 raw water pipeline that can be accessed by local fire departments. The successful implementation of these initial projects has been a direct result of the collaboration with our partners and various governmental officials, regulators and affected/interested 5
Water cascades through the new inlet during the first fill test, held in July 2013.

residents, which began at the inception of the project and have continued throughout the construction phase. Key partners in this project include the adjacent counties of Union, Marion and Delaware, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the state legislature, which allowed this project to pilot new bonding requirements and inspection costs for large upground reservoirs. This reduced the cost of the project and provided inspection funds for ODNR. At the conclusion of this project, Columbus and central Ohio will have a new water supply to satisfy the regions thirst for drinking water for many decades to come. For more information about this project, contact Ken Ricker at 614.898.7100 or email info@msconsultants.com.

Columbus Innerbelt project receives national recognition

Work on the first phases of the I-70/I-71 reconstruction are well underway. The massive project is rebuilding the entire corridor where the two interstates merge through downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The massive and complex reconstruction of the I-70/I-71 corridor through downtown Columbus, Ohio, has been underway for more than two years. The engineering study that was completed to come up with alternatives and solutions to the traffic problems occurring within the merge area of the two interstates started years before that. That effort, the I-70/I-71 Columbus South Innerbelt Study, earned a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) competition the Academy Awards of the engineering industry, according to ACEC. The National Recognition Award is a prestigious distinction honoring projects that demonstrate exceptional achievement in engineering. ms consultants (project designer) and the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 6 (project client) were recognized during the black-tie EEA gala awards program and dinner, held in April 2013 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C. The I-70/I-71 Columbus South Innerbelt reconstruction is a more than $1 billion project rebuilding the merging of two of the main interstates through Ohio. They come together on the south and east sides of downtown Columbus. When completed, the project will rebuild three freeway system interchanges, consolidate ramps to city streets and add lanes improving the safety and increasing the capacity of the interstate network through downtown. The project is designed to reduce crashes by reducing weaving traffic and increasing traffic capacity to meet future needs. The first phase in rebuilding the corridor is the I-71/I-670 interchange.

Project manager Tom Hibbard stands next to the award exhibit at the 2013 ACEC Engineering Excellence Award Gala, held at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel, in Washington, D.C.

That particular interchange averages approximately 137,000 vehicles per day. Construction of the first phase is estimated to cost $200 million. That portion of the project started in 2011. A little farther to the south, Phase 2 has now started which will rebuild the I-70/I-71 East Interchange, near Nationwide Childrens Hospital. The second phase will cost an estimated $260 million for construction. More phases are planned, including reconstruction of the I-70/I-71/State Route 315 interchange to the west and I-70/I-71 along the southern edge of downtown. Periodic updates will be published in this newsletter and at www.msconsultants.com as the projects progress. For more information, please contact project manager Tom Hibbard in the Columbus office at 614.898.7100, or email info@msconsultants.com.

Rehabbed bridge dedicated to engineer who helped save it

The Standardsburg Road Bridge, originally built in 1926, spans the West Branch Huron River in Ridgefield Township, Ohio. The bridge is a steel Warren Through Truss having a single, 124-foot span. The bridge was in very poor condition when ms consultants was hired by Huron County officials to inspect it. That inspectionresulted in a rating of 3 and a maximum load limit of 20 tons. The existing bridge and approach roadway were approximately 20 feet wide with no sidewalks. ms long-time structural engineer, Wade Harvey, conducted an initial structural analysis that showed the bridge could be salvaged through key rehabilitation strategies. His load rating analysis identified the limiting capacity bridge members. His design tactics evaluated ways to strengthen or replace key members and studied alternate floor systems to lighten the floor loads so that the structure could once again carry full legal truck loads. Rehabilitating the bridge involved dismantling the existing truss by removing key rivets and shipping it to a fabricator, where deteriorated truss members including stringers, floor beams, gusset plates and bottom chords were either rehabbed or replaced. All steel members were sand-blasted and galvanized. The rehabilitated truss members were then shipped back to the site where the bridge was reassembled over the river onto reconditioned abutments. The project also included replacement of the rocker and bolster bearings with new elastomeric bearing assemblies fitted to the truss, a new waterproofed timber floor system with asphalt wearing surface, new bridge and approach guardrails, along with minor improvements to the existing wing walls and approach roadway drainage systems. The bridge was officially opened to traffic in November 2012, and now carries full Ohio legal loads. On July 30, 2013, Huron County officials dedicated the Standardsburg Road Bridge to Mr. Harvey, who succumbed to the advanced stages of cancer before the project was completed. For more information about this project, please contact Brian Hughes in the Youngstown office at 330.744.5321, or email info@msconsultants.com.

Project manager Wade Harvey recognized early in the analysis of the bridge that it was possible to save much of the structure. Sadly, he succumbed to the advanced stages of cancer before the project was completed.

Two of Wades three sons, Kevin (left) and Steven, unveiled the plaque dedicating the Standardsburg Road Bridge in his honor. A crowd of more than 40 attended the ceremony, including his wife Kathy and other son Mark.

An analysis of various existing structures on the YSU campus addressed their suitability for current uses, and the feasibility for additional uses.

STEM study completed for YSU

Youngstown State University (YSU), with an enrollment of more than 15,000 students, is an urban research university located adjacent to downtown Youngstown, Ohio. The university recently restructured its academic divisions to include the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Williamson College of Business Administration, the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services, the College of Creative Arts and Communication, the Beeghly College of Education, and the School of Graduate Studies. The YSU STEM Outreach Initiative is a collaborative effort between the YSU STEM College, the Youngstown City Schools, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and area employers of STEM graduates. 10 The fundamental objective of this multi-faceted initiative is to enlighten and encourage pre-college students to pursue postsecondary STEM degrees, as well as mentor and prepare them for future careers in STEM related fields. The result should be an increased number of highly skilled and talented engineers entering the workforce, thereby meeting the employment needs of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. With realignment of the colleges came the necessity to perform planning for the various STEM facilities. ms consultants, in collaboration with BHDP Architecture, provided master planning for the STEM College. Campus facilities evaluated in the study include Moser Hall, Ward Beecher Hall, Meshel Hall, the Phelps Building, the Lincoln Building, the Garfield Building and the AT&T Building.

Working with the students, staff and administrators, and guided by the university's Strategic Plan, Campus Master Plan and the STEM Strategic Plan and Mission Statement, the ms/BHDP team evaluated and analyzed the university's facility needs and usage of the current STEM related facilities. These included Moser Hall, Ward Beecher Hall, Meshel Hall and the Lincoln Building. Analysis of these existing structures addressed suitability for current uses as well as feasibility for additional uses. The Phelps Building, the Garfield Building and the AT&T Building were also considered and evaluated as potential space for STEM functions. The project team identified logistical/phasing issues by building and department to allow for continuous academic operations. Special consideration was alloted to issues related to Hazmat, EPA and OSHA regulations and requirements relative to specific laboratory activities and functions. ms/BHDP proposed various facility configurations and adjacencies, and developed a matrix of space configuration options, giving consideration to available facilities and structures. The concept of enclosed pedestrian connectivity between the various structures was also addressed. Any necessary relocation of departments currently occupying proposed spaces was considered. The team budgeted construction costs for the referenced options, as well as recommendations (including pros and cons) for the various alternatives. The total concept envisions restructuring and/or reconfiguration of existing campus facilities, as well as construction of a new building that will accommodate the STEM College. The final project budget may range from $100 million to $125 million. ms/BHDP developed the final master plan, which includes development of site master plans, design graphics and design narratives that were presented to YSU Administration and the STEM Planning Team (made up of the dean, faculty and Facilities Planning department). The final step is a recommendation to move forward with funding options and implementation of the plan. For more information about this project, please contact project manager David Kiraly in Youngstown at 330.744.5321, or e-mail info@msconsultants.com.

ms supports STEM
ms consultants supports STEM programs in a number of ways, from offering engineering and architecture internships to students interested in those technical fields, to hosting Engineer for a Day activities for high school students and sponsoring a robotics competition. Jay Thorne, the branch manager of ms Indianapolis office, serves on the steering committee for the City of Indianapolis and Mayor Greg Ballards VEX Robotics Championship. This annual event, of which ms consultants is a sponsor, took place in November 2013 and was scheduled to be attended by 48 high schools and 40 middle schools. Each team of students worked to design, build and program a robot to compete against robots from other teams in a sports-like game. Teams won awards for completing tasks in a timed competition, along with creating business plans, developing cohesive team brands, cooperating with other teams, forging suitable initiatives, and enhancing civic awareness and passion for STEM fields in modern communities. The top team qualifies for the 2013 VEX Robotics World Championship. Additionally, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology committed to provide full college scholarships to the members of the winning team. Please contact Jay Thorne at 317.566.0050 for more information about this program. He has been on the steering committee since the programs inception and also serves on the ACEC Education Committee, which works to increase awareness in schools. He visits high schools and middle schools throughout the year to discuss careers in engineering.
Students and ms staff from Engineer for a Day 2013.

ms consultants also promotes careers in engineering by sponsoring an annual Engineer for a Day event at its Columbus and Youngstown offices. High school students from various school districts that offer the Project Lead the Way program are given tours of the facilities and shadow engineers and architects in each technical group - transportation, water resources, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering, etc. Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a nationwide, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the quality and quantity of science and technology graduates in the United States. A high school program championed by PLTW offers a four year series of courses which, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering prior to entering college. Contact Michelle Murphy in Columbus at 614.898.7100 for more information about the Engineer for a Day and PLTW programs.

11

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 225 YOUNGSTOWN, OH

ms is celebrating our 50th anniversary!

2013 marks ms consultants 50th year in business, having been founded in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1963. Thats the same year that Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous I have a dream speech, the same year the very first James Bond movie (Dr. No) arrived in theaters and the same year the first album by some rock group named The Beatles hit record store shelves in America. The company has come a long way since the early days when Thomas F. Mosure and Thomas Fok worked out of the basement of a small building on Market Street in Youngstown. ms consultants now has four offices in Ohio and has expanded into Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and North Carolina. To celebrate our 50th year, weve been having parties and social events at all office locations. Weve also added a page to our website with a timeline of our history and other major events and fun facts that have occurred since 1963.

Guests and ms staff crowd the lobby during the Columbus anniversary party.

To visit the website, go to: www.msconsultants.com/timeline/ Were proud of the service weve been able to provide during the past 50 years, but couldnt have done it without the support of our many clients, business associates, friends and employees. So a very special thank you to everyone involved, and were already looking forward to the next 50 years!

NewsNotes is published by ms consultants, inc. Please submit all questions or comments to Chuck Campbell at 614.898.7100 or info@msconsultants.com.