Join us for the 20th Annual SEAOI Bridge Symposium on
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
This event will be held IN-PERSON!
The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois is pleased to announce the 20th Annual Bridge Symposium, which provides a forum for engineers to share analysis, design, and construction information from recent projects with unique and/or distinguishing characteristics. Attendance typically represents a diverse cross-section of all aspects of the profession, including design, construction management, material suppliers, academia, general contracting, and owners’ representatives.
Program
7:30am - 8:00 am |
Registration/ Breakfast |
8:00 am - 8:10 am |
Welcome and Introduction to the Symposium |
8:10 am - 8:40 am |
Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Design-Build |
8:40 am - 9:10 am |
Cottonbelt 26-mile new Rail Corridor - A Design/Build Project |
9:10 am - 9:13 am |
Platinum Sponsor - HBM Engineering Group |
9:13 am - 9:25 am |
Break - visit exhibitors |
9:25 am - 9:55 am |
Evaluation of Early 20th Century Open Spandrel Concrete Arch Bridges |
9:55 am - 10:25 am |
Webster Ave Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation |
10:25 am - 10:28 am |
Platinum Sponsor - Nucor |
10:28 am - 10:38 am |
Break - visit exhibitors |
10:38 am - 11:08 am |
Replacing the Historic Nettle Creek Aqueduct |
11:08 am - 11:38 am |
Pearl Sessions (short presentations):
|
11:38 am - 12:08 pm |
Aerodynamic Implications of Refurbishing Existing Bridges |
12:08 pm - 12:38 pm |
Lunch |
12:38 pm - 1:38 pm |
Keynote Presentation: Structural Engineering – Reflections from a Non-Structural Engineer |
1:38 pm - 1:41 pm |
Platinum Sponsor - CTL Group |
1:41 pm - 2:01 pm |
IDOT Structural Update |
2:01 pm - 2:15 pm |
Break - Visit exhibitors |
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm |
Strengthening and Restoration of a 150 Year Old Cast and Wrought Iron Bowstring Pony Truss |
2:45 pm - 2:48 pm |
Platinum Sponsor - Michael Baker International |
2:48 pm - 3:18 pm |
The Design and Construction of the Old Post Office West Plaza – A Case Study in Complex Urban Infrastructure |
3:18 pm - 3:21 pm |
Platinum Sponsor - HNTB |
3:21 pm - 3:40 pm |
Break - Visit exhibitors |
3:40 pm - 4:00 pm |
ISHTA Structural Update Mohamad Faraj - Illinois State Toll Highway Authority |
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm |
Impact Repair Instrumentation and Monitoring at the Sunshine Bridge Jack Dai - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. |
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
Rehabilitation of GCRTA's Waterfront Line Bridge |
5:00 pm |
Adjourn |
Location
The Old Post Office
433 W Van Buren St
Chicago, IL
Parking information available here!
Registration
Early Bird - register before 3/25/23 to receive discounted pricing!
- $300 - SEAOI/SEA Member
- $425 - Nonmember
Regular Registration Rates effective 3/25/23 12 am:
- $400 - SEAOI/SEA Member
- $525 - Nonmember
Students:
- $150
Government Employee Rate:
- $200 - SEAOI/SEA Member
- $300 - Nonmember
Government Employees shall be from the following organizations: Departments of Transportation (City or State), including IDOT, CDOT, ISTHA, etc.; RTA - Chicago Transit Authority/Metra/Pace; Chicago Building Department. Other agencies will be reviewed and accepted at the discretion of the Bridge Symposium Committee. Please contact staff@seaoi.org to request acceptance if you believe you qualify for the rate but are not employed by one of the above agencies.
Group Registration: Companies with 5+ attendees will receive $50 off each registration fee. Complete list of attendees' names and addresses must be submitted to office@SEAOI.org to qualify and for registration.
Exhibitor Opportunities -- $1,000
- Dedicated table in event space (approx. 4'x2')
- One admission to event
- Recognition in the program and from the podium
- Access to participants during breakfast, lunch and breaks during the day
Sponsor Opportunities
A/V Sponsor- $3,000 (1 available)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the A/V Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world\
- 24” x 36“ Sponsor recognition poster at event entrance
- Dedicated Welcome Slide
- Two registrations to event
Program Sponsor - $1,200 (SOLD OUT)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Program Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- Dedicated back page of program given to all registrants
Platinum - $1,200 (SOLD OUT)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Platinum Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- Two minutes of speaking time during the event
Breakfast Sponsor- $1,000 (SOLD OUT)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Breakfast Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Breakfast
Lunch Sponsor- $2,000 (SOLD OUT)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Lunch Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Lunch
- Lunch served with cocktail napkins branded with sponsor's name/logo
Afternoon Break Sponsor- $1,000 (SOLD OUT)
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as the Afternoon Break Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- 8.5” x 11” Sponsor recognition signage during Afternoon Break
Gold - $900
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Gold Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- Sponsor logo and recognition as a Gold Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
- Two SEAOI Tuesday Update Ads (date TBD by both parties)
Silver - $700
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Silver Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- Sponsor logo and recognition as a Silver Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
- One SEAOI Tuesday Update Ad (date TBD by both parties)
Bronze - $400
- Sponsor logo inclusion and recognition as a Bronze Sponsor in SEAOI’s marketing efforts (email blasts, Tuesday Update, SEAOI website, etc.) to over 2,400 structural engineers and members of the built world
- Sponsor logo and recognition as a Bronze Sponsor on all Welcome and Thank You slides
Meet the Speakers
KEYNOTE PRESENTER
Jim Harper, PE
Chief Engineer for Infrastructure - Chicago Transit Authority
Jim Harper is a licensed PE with over 35 years of experience in the transit industry. He has been the Chief Engineer for Infrastructure at the Chicago Transit Authority for the past 12 years, and was previously in a number of engineering and maintenance positions at the agency. Prior to his tenure at the CTA, Mr. Harper worked as a consultant on a number of transit projects including five years on the Hiawatha Light Rail design/build project in Minneapolis. He started his career as a Systems Engineer on the O’Hare People Mover Project. Jim has a BSME from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Urban Systems and Policy Planning from Northwestern University.
Structural Engineering – Reflections from a Non-Structural Engineer
The Structural Engineering Profession touches everyone’s life countless times on a daily basis. Unfortunately, society takes for granted the skills, knowledge and (and oftentimes courage to push the envelope) that were needed to conceptualize, design and construct what are sometimes iconic structures, and in other cases are fully hidden from view. Born and raised in Michigan, and eventually in my career as a “non-structural” engineer in Chicago, my appreciation for art, science, and challenges of the structural engineering profession continues to evolve. Travelling across the Mackinaw Bridge for our annual summer vacations in Michigan’s upper peninsula was always the highlight of our trips. The many challenges and setbacks of building the Zilwaukee Bridge was frequently a topic of discussion around my family’s dinner table. My first job after graduate school helping to design and construct the people mover at O’Hare Airport introduced me to the many challenges faced by structural engineers as they design significant structures around countless constraints. Finally, my career at the CTA has immersed me in a “structure-centric” engineering organization with a hundred year history of designing, constructing and maintaining miles and miles of bridges. This presentation will summarize my journey as an “outside” observer of the profession, and hopefully promote some discussion as to how to encourage the next generation to better understand and appreciate the profession’s contributions.
Jack Dai
Senior Associate - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Since joining WJE in 2018, Jack Dai has been involved in a broad range of projects, that have included the evaluation, testing, instrumentation and monitoring, vibration analysis, and nondestructive evaluation of a variety of structures. His background and interests include structural dynamics, condition assessment of historic structures, load testing, nondestructive evaluation, and full-scale laboratory testing.
Impact Repair Instrumentation and Monitoring at the Sunshine Bridge
WJE engineers performed instrumentation, monitoring, as well as finite element modeling and jacking system design to assist LADOTD with the emergency repair of the truss chord of the Sunshine Bridge damaged by the crane barge.
Brian Umbright, PE, SE
Vice President – Transportation - EXP
Brian has more than 28 years of experience as a structural engineer, project manager and transportation division manager, the last 8 for EXP. Brian was the Project Manager and EOR for this project.
Replacing the Historic Nettle Creek Aqueduct
Brian Umbright is Vice President – Transportation for EXP based out of Chicago and manages their Midwest transportation practice. He is an industry veteran with more than 28 years of experience as a bridge engineer, project manager and principal responsible for delivering projects from $3M to $300M in size. Brian is an industry advocate who participates in a number of professional organizations and committees and is currently a Board Member of SEAOI. Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and 8 other states as well as a Illinois Licensed Structural Engineer. Brian lives in Naperville with his wife and 4 children and was the Project Manager for the Nettle Creek Aqueduct project.
Jon Beckstrom, P.E., S.E.
Bridge Engineer - Michael Baker International
Jon serves as a Structural Engineer with Michael Baker International and has over 9 years of bridge structural analysis and design for clients across the nation. He obtained his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Illinois. He has performed structural analyses and load ratings on new construction and historic complex bridges. He has design experience with both pedestrian and vehicular bridge structures.
Evaluation of Early 20th Century Open Spandrel Concrete Arch Bridges
Concrete open spandrel arch bridges were a common construction in the early-20th century and can be found scattered across the Midwest. These bridge structures are a sight to behold and unique from the standard steel composite highway bridges you see every day but are truly a challenge to analyze and load rate effectively. It is important to accurately represent the as-built and current condition of the structure without being overly conservative. In 2022, IDOT retained Michael Baker to load rate three concrete spandrel arch bridges in Illinois. This work order included a load rating bridge inspection for one of the bridges to assess the deteriorated condition and apply these modifications to our load rating analysis capacities. 3D FEM refined analysis techniques were implemented to model the behavior of the arch bridges. This presentation will provide a solution to a complex load rating problem and teach attendees best practices for the analyses of concrete open spandrel arch bridges.
Jamal Grainawi, PE, SE, Technical Fellow
Manager of Movable Bridge, Sr. Vice President - WSP USA
Jamal Grainawi, PE, SE: Manager of movable bridges at WSP; Sr. Vice President, Certified Sr. Project Manager, Technical Fellow and has over three decades of experience in all aspects of bridge engineering. He received his BS and MS degrees in Civil/Structural Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago, Illinois and is a licensed (P.E.) in several states and (S.E.) in Illinois. Before joining WSP, he worked for the MassDOT in the Bridge Section in Boston. He is a member of several professional organizations including: SEAOI, AAAEA – Board of Directors, Heavy Movable Structures, Inc., and ACEC-IL. He is also the founder and manager of the Movable Bridge Engineers Network Group in LinkedIn, with over 3,850 members worldwide.
Matthew Hellenthal, PE, SE
Technical Manager, Senior Associate – Benesch
Matthew Hellenthal, PE, SE is a Technical Manager at Benesch, where he has worked on numerous structural projects over the past fourteen years. He specializes in bridge design, earth retention structures, and complex girder erection for roadway and rail projects. Mr. Hellenthal has been involved in all stages of project development including feasibility studies, value engineering, design, plan production, and construction services on projects across the country.
Webster Ave Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation
This presentation will discuss the major rehabilitation of Webster Ave bascule bridge in Chicago. The work includes replacement of superstructure in the bascule leafs and approach spans, and repair of trusses. Additional repairs to various structural members and architectural features. The approach span enclosure walls and bridge houses were fully replaced with cast-in-place and precast concrete, respectively. The project included new pier protection with four dolphin pile clusters. The roadway was rebuilt, and ADA ramps were reconstructed with the sidewalks.
Christian Ray
Principal Structural Engineer, Cottonbelt Railroad Bridge Engineer - Jacobs
Christian (Chris) T. Ray, Principal Structural Engineer with Jacobs has over 34 years in concept development, analysis, design, and construction engineering. Chris holds a BSCE and MCE from North Carolina State University. Chris has led the design complex including the new 26-mile Dallas Area Rapid Transit Silverline, 13-km viaduct extension to the 2020 World’s Fair site in Dubai, UAE, the 37-km Sir Solomon Highway Extension in Trinidad and Tobago, the Cooper River Bridge featuring a 1550-ft cable-stayed main span in Charleston SC, and the Blue Plains Tunnel Project (ENR’s Best Mid-Atlantic Overall Project 2016) in Washington DC.
Cottonbelt 26-Mile New Rail Corridor - A Design/Build Project
Also known as the Silver Line Corridor, it connects the northern ends of the existing Dallas lines and DFW Airport. The Design Criteria, Standard and Directive Drawings, and standard design solutions were created so the teams could present the client with similar designs on the 40 affected structures. The bridges were either sistered with new adjacent bridges or replaced with double track bridges including through-girder and prestressed girder superstructures with a wide variety of substructures due to the existing constraints in the urban environment.
Faeze Khademi, Ph.D.
Bridge Engineer - Canadian National Railway (CN Railway)
Dr. Faeze Khademi has been a bridge rating engineer with CN Railway since August 2017. She has also been an instructor for the Bridge Inspection Workshop series held by CN, entrusted to serve on the company’s interview panel for employment opportunities, and regularly sought-after to attend university career fairs as an ambassador to both represent CN and inspire interest from potential talent. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 2015 and 2017, respectively, in civil (structural) engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. She earned her second M.Sc. degree in industrial engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 2022. She has authored multiple highly-cited articles and acts as a technical manuscript reviewer for prominent scientific journals, including those published by ASCE and Elsevier. She received the "Publons Peer Review Awards 2018" for being among the top 1% of reviewers due to her extensive peer review records on the platform’s reviewer database. She has also served on the Organizing Committee of the SEAOI Annual Bridge Symposium since 2020, as well as the Planning Committee of the Illinois Structural Engineering Conference at UIUC since 2023.
Truss Bridges in Railway Infrastructure: 3-D Frame Behavior and Field Load Testing
This study focuses on railway truss bridge load rating using full-scale diagnostic load testing and 3-D finite element analysis. As part of the 3-D behavior, out-of-plane bending of the primary truss members is investigated in this study. By addressing previously ignored bending in truss models, a multiplicative adjustment factor (AF) has been accordingly developed and proposed as a realistic technique to improve load rating and design of a significant number of truss bridges in the infrastructure network. The outcomes of this research have been implemented in practice and can be useful for the design and assessment of truss bridges worldwide for stress calculations in both strength and fatigue limit states.
Tom Weinmann
Vice President - Testing, Monitoring & Engineering - BDI
Mr. Weinmann is Vice President- Testing, Monitoring & Engineering for BDI and leads their Chicago office. He is a civil engineer with more than 40 years’ experience in design and implementation of structural monitoring systems for bridges and other unique structures throughout the world. Most recently, Tom has led the design for a Distributed Strain and Temperature fiber optic Structural Health Monitoring System (SHMS) on the West Seattle High Bridge.
Use of Distributed Strain and Temperature Fiber Optic Monitoring on the West Seattle High Bridge
First use of Distributed Strain and Temperature fiber optic technology in a Bridge structure to help identify cracking in yet-to-be identified areas of concern. This technology was put in-place to mitigate risk for the re-opening of the West Seattle High Bridge.
Erica Velasco, PE
Project Manager - Keller North America
7 years of geotechnical construction experience. Erica manages projects and opportunities for the Keller Chicago office. Erica's project experience with major infrastructure and institutional clients has included ground improvement, earth retention, and deep foundations solutions. Erica holds an undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and master’s degree, also from Iowa State University, in Geotechnical Engineering.
Remove and Replace: Micropiles for a Historical Chicago & North Western Railway Company’s Triple Track Truss
Keller will discuss how obstructions and low-headroom conditions impacted micropile installation for an over 100-year-old rail bridge replacement. The scope included installation of 54 micropiles and load testing under the active, existing bridge during winter conditions.
Mark Istvan, P.Eng.
Technical Coordinator – Bridge Aerodynamics - RWDI
Mark Istvan is an engineer in RWDI’s wind effects team focusing on the aerodynamic performance and wind loading of many types of bridges ranging from pedestrian to long-span bridges. He has overseen and analyzed wind tunnel tests for bridge projects across North America and Europe. Mark has a Bachelor’s degree (BASc) in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University and a Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He has leveraged his solid background in fluid mechanics to contribute to the aerodynamic analysis and wind tunnel testing of several signature bridges at RWDI.
Aerodynamic Implications of Refurbishing Existing Bridges
It is a code requirement in most geographies that designs of cable-stayed and suspension bridges undergo extensive aerodynamic analyses and wind tunnel testing. It is less common to do aerodynamic studies on existing bridges. Aerodynamic analyses should be considered when modifying an existing bridge to make it multi-use, when retrofitting a bridge to make it compliant with current bridge codes and when rehabilitating a bridge to extend its life. In recent years a methodology has been developed to conduct these aerodynamic analyses on existing bridges. This methodology has been applied to several bridges in the USA, Canada, and UK to ensure safety of the bridge and construction personnel during refurbishment of the bridge and to ensure safety and performance of the bridge after refurbishment. The process and benefits will be outlined through a discussion of case studies of various bridges originally designed and constructed in the 1930s, 1960s and 1980s.
Andy Lohan PE SE
Structural Engineer - Lochner
Andy Lohan is a Structural Engineer with 10 years of experience in the design of steel and concrete bridges in the UK and the US. Andy has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Trinity College Dublin and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineer from Imperial College London.
Strengthening and Restoration of a 150 Year Old Cast and Wrought Iron Bowstring Pony Truss
Hidden Lake Bridge is a 50-foot-long historic cast and wrought iron bowstring pony truss, dating back to the 1870’s, that spans over the East Branch DuPage River in Hidden Lake Forest Preserve in DuPage County, Illinois. To economically preserve this historic bridge and restore it as a working bowstring pony truss capable of carrying pedestrians and maintenance vehicles, the team developed unique details to recreate or strengthen existing structural elements while consulting closely with historic bridge preservationists.
Andrew J. Keaschall, PE, SE
Benesch
Andrew Keaschall is the Illinois Division Manager for Benesch. He has worked on many challenging urban projects in his nearly 20 years with Benesch including Wacker Drive and the Chicago Riverwalk.
Amar Bhojwani, PE
Benesch
Amar Bhojwani works as a Project Engineer at Benesch. He has 4 years of experience designing various structures and has extensive experience in bridge inspection on many of Chicago’s unique bridges and viaducts.
The Design and Construction of the Old Post Office West Plaza – A Case Study in Complex Urban Infrastructure
Learn about the rehabilitation of the Old Post Office West Plaza – one of the final steps in the renovation effort of one of Chicago’s most historic structures. Sitting at the intersection of aging city infrastructure, an interstate highway, a historic building, and railroad tracks, this project provided several unique challenges. This presentation will discuss these challenges and the creative solutions required to address them.
Alison Love, SE
Structural Engineer - STV Inc.
Alison Love, S.E. is a Structural Engineer in STV’s Boston office with over 11 years of experience. She has worked on some of the largest bridge projects in the Boston area, including design, construction support, and load rating of the Longfellow Bridge rehabilitation.
Heather Moulton, PE
Structural Engineer - STV Inc.
Heather Moulton, P.E. is a Structural Engineer in STV’s Boston office with over 10 years of experience. Her career started with the Longfellow Bridge rehabilitation project, from design through construction support and project close-out. Since then, she has worked on other large bridge projects in the Boston area.
Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Design-Build
The Longfellow bridge spanning the Charles River is an iconic landmark structure complete with ornate architectural details. The Bridge was built in 1907, developed with considerable aesthetic detailing, and considered the first bridge in the nation designed specifically to accommodate both commercial traffic and mass transit. The bridge was last rehabilitated in 1960 and had significant deterioration. The $306.5-million design-build project included upgrading structural and seismic capacity and functionality while complying with strict federal and state historic rehabilitation standards. STV served as the lead designer on the design-build team for the rehabilitation of the 2,135-foot structure. The presentation will summarize the bridge history, inspection, analysis, and rehabilitation design.
Howard Swanson PE, SE
Rail Practice Senior Project Manager - Hardesty & Hanover, LLC
Howard Swanson, PE, SE has over 35 years of experience in the railroad industry. During that time his responsibilities have included the design of bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects and the supervision of personnel inspecting and maintaining structures. Howard worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad for 32 years, most recently as Assistant Chief Engineer, Bridges and Structures. He has worked for Hardesty & Hanover since 2020. His work with H&H has included managing projects and designing complex structures.
Kirk D. Dimmick, PE
Engineering Project Manager, Bridges - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
37 years of bridge inspection, engineering design & construction experience is across both private and public sectors. Kirk is responsible for the GCRTA bridge program for the Authority’s 100+ structures across 69 Track miles. Owner experience for 2 ½ decades includes oversight on 60+ replacement and rehabilitation projects.
Rehabilitation of GCRTA's Waterfront Line Bridge
Transit services are provided in Cleveland, Ohio by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). The Waterfront Line provides service from downtown to the Lakefront. A key feature of the Waterfront Line is the bridge over Front Avenue and Norfolk Southern Railroad. The bridge is a five-span segmental concrete box bridge that is 645 feet long. Significant cracks in the bridge were found and rail operations were halted. The bridge has significant curvature on each end and had rail expansion problems on the approaches. H&H was selected to inspect the structure and design repairs to allow the bridge to be placed back in service.
Mark Shaffer
Bridge Design Section Chief, Illinois Department of Transportation Bureau of Bridges and Structures
IDOT Structural Update
Mohamad Faraj, PE, PME
Executive Project Manager, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
ISHTA Structural Update
Organizing Committee
Moussa A. Issa - HBM Engineering Group, LLC - ChairMary Lou Kutska - Michael Baker International - Co-Chair
Johann Aakre – Michael Baker International
Mark Bendok – Benesch
William Colletti – TranSystems
Maen Farhat – Accurate Group, Inc.
Phillip Frey - TYLin
Faeze Khademi - Canadian National Railway
Soliman Khudeira – CDOT-Division of Engineering
Andy Lohan – LOCHNER
Will Mardauss - Ciorba Group Sam Mittal - STV, Inc.
Majid Mobasseri – Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
Tony Shkurti – HNTB Corporation
Christopher Stine – AECOM