Construction Institute Boston Chapter/Construction
VOLUME 46 | ISSUE 7| March 2022

Lead Article: Climate and Extreme Weather Events: Considerations for Insurance, Infrastructure Planning & Environmental and Financial Compliance
By Richard C. Donohoe, Managing Director, J.S. Held
Climate and extreme weather events are threatening human health and safety, food, water and energy security, and the environment in broad regions ranging from the United States to China, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This paper will focus on the undeniable current climatic conditions (putting aside the questions of causes and reasons) and their influences and impacts upon the insurance market, primarily events that are happening more frequently, in locations not anticipated, and on larger scales than experienced historically. ... Read more

President's Report
An update from Shallan Fitzgerald
This month heralded the first day of spring with a shift from dormancy towards growth and renewal. While we continue to experience disruptions in global supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, natural disasters, and now the conflict in Ukraine, local and regional companies are finding new and innovative ways to anticipate, adjust, and adapt to our current environment. ... Read more

Featured Group: Construction Institute Boston Chapter
By Betsy Kirtland, PE, Structural Engineer, Stantec, CI Boston Chapter Chair
Construction activity in the Greater Boston Area has continued to flourish over the past year. Many major projects are moving forward, perhaps most notably with the first branch of the Green Line Extension due to open to the public this month. It is an exciting time to be in the construction world here in Boston, and the Boston Chapter of the Construction Institute has been paying close attention to what’s happening. ... Read more

Chelsea Viaduct (US 1) Rehabilitation
By Matthew D'Angelo, PE, Structural Department Manager, HNTB Corporation
In the spring of 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) – Highway Division partnered with HNTB Corporation to develop an ambitious project to continue its rehabilitation program for bridges across the Commonwealth. The $170 million Chelsea Viaduct replacement project was fully designed in only 18 months, with substantial completion after just 30 months of construction.  ... Read more

Replacement of the MBTA Franklin Line Over East Street
By Kristofer Kretsch, PE, ENV SP, Senior Structural Engineer, VHB and Kaleigh Rowe Stutz, PE, Structural Design Consultant, VHB
Locally known as the "can opener" bridge, the East Street Bridge in Westwood was renowned for the many accidents it caused. Widening East Street and increasing the bridge's vertical and horizontal clearance would improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians. The VHB team used non-traditional accelerated bridge construction techniques to minimize disruption to rail service and traffic and successfully complete this high-profile project under a compressed timeline. ... Read more

The Transformation of Mt. Tom’s Coal-Fired Power Plant
By Brian Huntley, PE, Project Manager, Tighe & Bond, Inc. and Shawn Rising, LSP, Senior Project Manager, Tighe & Bond, Inc.
The innovative application of Tighe & Bond's engineering and environmental consulting services and collaboration with other organizations allowed for the transformation of ENGIE North America’s Mt. Tom properties in Holyoke, MA. This project combines the successful demolition and remediation of former fossil fuel power generation sites and preservation of vegetated areas and the associated wildlife while also incorporating clean energy and energy storage to benefit surrounding communities. ... Read more

Thinking ABC on MassDOT’s Acceler-8 I-90 Bridge Replacements Project
By Carlos A. Merino Calvo, CDR Maguire, Robert T. Elliott, CDR Maguire, Michael Sullivan, CHA, Gary Baxter, MassDOT, Mohammed Nabulsi, MassDOT, Savas Kiriakadis, MassDOT and Alexander Bardow, MassDOT
After a busy summer of 2021 with construction activities in the I-90 corridor in Southborough and Westborough, MA, the Acceler-8 project is in its final stage and is coming to an end. The project included replacement of eight bridge superstructures (four – twin structures) using NEXTD beams and rehabilitation of bridge substructures using Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) techniques ... Read more
Announcements



Renew Your BSCES Membership!

If you have not renewed your ASCE/ BSCES membership now is the time! Also don't forget to click on BSCES as your section/branch. Please help us to continue to provide quality programs and services to our local civil engineering community. Click on the arrow next to Membership on the ASCE.org homepage, and click Renew.
Job Board

Looking to promote a job to BSCES members? Click here to learn more about posting on the BSCES job board.

Geotechnical and Senior Geotechnical Engineers - GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA) is seeking Geotechnical and Senior Geotechnical Engineers with solid technical skills and project management abilities to join our geotechnical team in our Norwood, Massachusetts office and be part of our vibrant practice on transportation, building, energy and other infrastructure projects. 


Senior Stormwater Engineer/Project Manager - Hatch
Hatch has an exciting career opportunity for a Senior Stormwater Engineer and Project Manager in Boston, MA. The Boston team is recognized as a center of excellence focused on green infrastructure (GI), landscape architecture, low impact development, landscape restoration, urban forestry, and climate change adaptiveness. 

Advertising Opportunities

BSCES has a variety of options for advertising in BSCESNews and on the BSCES website. Click here to learn more about advertising with BSCES.

Get Involved
BSCES Civil Engineering Practice Journal Needs Your Help
Still working from home? You can use the time you're saving by not commuting to go clean out the garage or better yet, write an article for the reborn BSCES Civil Engineering Practice journal. ... Read More
Suggest a Seminar Topic
If you have a topic that you would like BSCES to feature in an upcoming seminar, send your suggestion to BSCES Program Committee Chair Chris Hersey at prog.comm@bsces.org.

Learn about the Program Committee
Become a BSCESNews Contributor
Would you like to contribute to the newsletter of the oldest civil engineering society in the country? The BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board is seeking members who are willing to write articles for publication in BSCESNews or to join the Editorial Board. BSCESNews articles can be related to an issue’s theme or on any topic of interest to civil engineers. Please see the BSCESNews Article Submission Form containing article submission requirements. Click here to email the Newsletter Editorial Board for more information.
Submit Member News
Help us build the BSCES community by sharing your achievements. Have you or your company recently been recognized for a professional accomplishment, passed the Professional Engineer Exam, received a promotion, or changed employers? Send your news to BSCES Executive Director Rich Keenan rkeenan@engineers.org.

2021 - 2022 Society Sponsors

BSCES Newsletter Editorial Board
Chair: Michael Sullivan, PE
Michael R. Cunningham, PE
Annahid Dastgheib-Beheshti, PE
Susannah Davis, EIT
Shallan C. Fitzgerald, PE
Richard F. Keenan
David M. Manugian, PE
Richard A. Matson, PE
Angus J. O’Leary, PE
Kathryn Swanson, PE

President: Shallan C. Fitzgerald, PE
President-Elect: Ronald K. Burns, PE, LSP, LEED AP
Secretary: Richard A. Matson, PE
Treasurer: Gregory L. Mirliss, STS
Assistant Treasurer: Vacant
Senior Vice Presidents: Michael R. Cunningham, PE, Christopher P. Hersey
Vice Presidents: ; Kathryn Swanson, PE, Todd M. Clark, PE
Past President: Bruce L. Jacobs, PhD, PE
Western MA Branch Vice President: Vacant
Institute Chapter & Technical Group Chairs
Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute Boston Chapter: Daniel W. O'Connor, PE
Construction Institute Boston Chapter: Elizabeth (Betsy) Kirtland, EIT
Engineering Management Group: Lee M. Koska, EIT
Environmental & Water Resources Institute Boston Chapter: Rishabh V. Iyer, PE
Geo-Institute Boston Chapter: Matthew G. Chartier, PE
Structural Engineering Institute Boston Chapter: Shanta B. Keller, PE, ENV SP
Transportation & Development Institute Boston Chapter: Tyler de Ruiter, PE
Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute Boston Chapter: Peter D. Nardini, PE
Younger Member Group: Valerie P. Chia
2021–2022 BSCES Program Sponsors
Alfred Benesch & Company | BETA Group | BSC Group | CDM Smith
Collins Engineers, Inc. | Dewberry | Green International Affiliates, Inc.
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. | Haley & Aldrich, Inc. | Horsley Witten Group, Inc. | Howard Stein Hudson
Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. | HNTB | Kleinfelder | Nitsch Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University | Patrick Engineering, Inc. Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. | Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. | Skanska USA Civil | Tighe & Bond TranSystems | TREVIICOS | Tufts University - Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
VHB | Weston & Sampson | WSP USA, Inc.

Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section/ASCE
One Walnut Street, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617/227-5551, Fax: 617/227-6783

The BSCES newsletter, BSCESNews, is designed to provide information and opinions in regard to the subject matters covered. BSCES and its Board assume no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in this publication. It is published with the understanding that the Board and the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The Newsletter Editorial Board encourages reproduction of BSCESNews with appropriate acknowledgment. © 2022 BSCESNews.