A New Beginning for Buffalos Waterfront

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
A New Beginning for Buffalos Waterfront
Federal Highway Administration
New York State Department of Transportation
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Project Location and Limits
NY Route 5 and Fuhrmann Blvd Union Ship Canal
north to the US Coast Guard Station
Buffalo River
NY Route 5 Fuhtrmann Boulevard
South Project limit
Lake Erie
North Project limit
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Project Setting

• Industrial Waterfront Area
• Outdated Road Network
• Underutilized and Abandoned properties

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Project Goals
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Improve access and mobility to and along the
  waterfront
• Support economic development/redevelopment
• Support local and regional planning policies
  and strategies
• Minimize adverse impacts on communities and
  environment

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Project Summary
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Original Bid 48 million
• Projected Cost due to Design Changes 60
  65 million
• Construction Started January 2008
• Construction Complete December 2010
• GreenLITES Evergreen Award April 2009

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Project Highlights

• Reconstruct 2.50 miles of NY Route 5 and
  construct a new full diamond interchange at a new
  crossroad (Outer Harbor Drive)
• Reconstruct 3.50 miles of Fuhrmann Blvd. into a
  new parkway with extensive landscaping and median
  and will include two new roundabouts and full
  utility replacement
• Construct three new ramps from NY Route 5 to
  eliminate and consolidate poorly located ramps
  and complete a partial diamond interchange at
  Tifft Street
• Construct four (4) new bridges
• Construct new and upgrade existing sporadic
  pedestrian facilities throughout project.

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Design Challenges/Opportunities
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Accelerated Schedule (12 months for Final
  Design with 7 months from ROD to Advertisement)
• Competing Values (Commuter vs. Local Traffic
  keeping
• consistent with Long Term Planning Goals)
• Maintaining 45,000 vehicles per day through
  project
• Geotechnical (soil) Issues poor
  characteristics, contamination
• Advancing Sustainable Multi-Modal/Non-vehicular
  Use Along the Corridor
• Drainage Re-use of existing outfalls with
  flat profiles, and Lake Erie characteristics

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Implemented Solutions to Meet Challenges

• Combined design efforts between NYSDOT and
  projects Consultants
• Provided a Dual Roadway System with
  Interchanges and Access
• points at critical locations to compliment
  Planning initiatives
• Provided new and upgraded existing multi-use
  facilities
• Construction staging Rte. 5 traffic diversion
• Geotechnical Mitigations
• Preloading embankments
• Pile supported embankment
• Expanded Polystyrene and Lightweight Concrete
  Embankments

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Geotechnical
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Design Highlights

• Project corridor is reclaimed lake bed
• South end of project has deep organic soil layer
• Father Baker Bridge pile caps avoided with
  Tifft St ramps
• Design Solutions included Geofoam (EPS)
  Embankment - Service Rd C bridge
• Pile Supported Embankments - Ohio St bridge
• Preloading - Outer Harbor Drive
• Lightweight Concrete Fill - Service Rd D
  bridge
• Two Stage Mechanically Stabilized Earth System
  (MSES)

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Outer Harbor Drive and Tifft Nature Preserve
Preloading
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
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OHIO STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Pile supported embankment
• Need to maintain Ohio Street traffic
• Large diameter (10) water intake

Ohio St Bridge from Fuhrmann (toward NE)
Ohio St Bridge elevation looking west
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OHIO STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
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Service Road C Bridge Replacment
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Geofoam (EPS) Embankment Service Rd C bridge
NY Route 5 Bridge over Service Road C
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TWO STAGE MECHANICALLY STABLIZED EARTH SYSTEM
(MSES)
BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Six (6) permanent walls and two (2) temporary
  walls to be installed throughout the project
  limits
• Permanent Walls to be constructed with a one or
  two stage installation process
• All MSES walls are scheduled for installation by
  Summer, 2009

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Period Street Lighting
Roundabouts included local materials for
aesthetics
Alignments minimized ROW acquisitions and allows
for maximum development
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Bridge Aesthetics (Stone Fascias, Stone Retaining
Walls, Cast Stone Markers and Interpretative
Bridge Columns
Historical Signage and markers were included in
the project in conjunction with the Industrial
Heritage Trail
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project maintained a project website, Project
Newsletter, and met with established Stakeholder
Community Advisory Groups with numerous
outreach charettes presentations.
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project included a designated wildlife crossing
Project also included a re-aligned outfall to
maintain and enhance a recently created fish
spawning and habitat area
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project included the relocation of over two dozen
mature trees along Fuhrmann Boulevard
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project included the re-use of concrete as road
subbase
Project included spoil and borrow pit locations
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

• Project included a Beneficial Use Determination
  (BUD)

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project included the construction of two
roundabouts
Project reconfigured access points and eliminated
3 on and off ramps
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights

Project included improvements to the multi-use
paths by including new connections, new sidewalks
and improvements such as signage, bike racks and
cross walks
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Landscape Development Committee
Members Local Advocates, City of Buffalo and
NYSDOT Landscape Architects and Designers Goals
Design and theme the proposed landscape and
aesthetic treatments. Garner additional public
input and build upon the recent enthusiasm for
the project
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Highlights of Construction Changes

• Original Cost 47.70 million
• Current Cost 60.00 65.00 million
• Field Changes Sheets 720 out 940 contract
  drawings will be replaced
• Three (3) new Transportation Enhancement Projects
  have been initiated

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Highlights of Construction Changes
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights and Post-Letting Changes

Traffic Calming measures (bulb outs, narrowed
pavement, curve-linear design of Fuhrmann
Boulevard)were included on Fuhrmann Boulevard
Changes included complete new vertical and
horizontal profiles for NY Route 5 and Fuhrmann
Boulevard to maximize GREEN areas and open up
view sheds
Added new multi-use path links to open up more
green areas
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights and Post-Letting Changes

More fully themed the Landscape design to be
consistent with adjacent development (Times
Beach, Gallagher Beach)
Re-use of City of Buffalo materials including
road cobbles and sandstone slabs from the
recently demolished Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY

• Green Highlights and Post-Letting Changes

Relocated a proposed Wildlife crossing to improve
access to Tifft Nature Preserve
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Transportation Enhancement Project Tifft Street
Wharf

• Existing (right) Located between two existing
  marinas
• Proposed (below) Install a two-tier boardwalk
  and fishing area

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Transportation Enhancement Project Union Ship
Canal Promenade
Existing (right) - Popular fishing location w/
difficult access Proposed (below) Increase
accessibility to water and enhance area by
creating an destination area for fishing and
relaxation
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Transportation Enhancement Project Industrial
Heritage Trail
Existing - CSX Railroad corridor within public
ROW boundary Proposed - Enhance area through
industrial heritage markers, reclaimed materials
(cobbles and sandstones) for walking surfaces
while providing historical information and a
sense of place for users.
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Transportation Enhancement Project Times Beach
Nature Preserve Boardwalk
Existing (right) Pedestrian path adjacent to an
existing nature preserve Proposed (below)
Install raised boardwalk and architectural fence
and re-theming the landscape within the ROW to be
consistent with the landscaping of the Nature
Preserve.
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Transportation Enhancement Project Gallagher
Beach Pavilion
Existing (right) Existing Boardwalk and Pier
exist along the waters edge with minimal
appurtenances Proposed (below) Create a
congregation area by installing pavilions and
gaming tables
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Visualization
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Major Construction Changes

• Relocated one bridge
• Added new bridge
• Five (5) miles of new horizontal and vertical
  profiles
• New typical sections for Fuhrmann Boulevard
• Complete drainage system re-design for both NY
  Route 5 and Fuhrmann Boulevard (300 structures
  and 10 outlets)
• New 1500 drainage outlet
• Complete re-design of all retaining walls.
• Additional utility relocations

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Highlights of Construction Changes
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Construction Innovations
Extensive use of GPS surveying Incorporating
actual field measurements into the new design as
the design was progressing Extensive use of
electronic drawings Staggered/segmental design of
project elements to maintain schedule Used a
design-build model for processing the new
design. Contractor utilized state-of the-art
CADD software This allowed for a seamless
transition of design and construction files,
models and drawings.
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
GPS Survey and Control
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Traffic Diversion Ramp North End

• 45,000 AADT with 80/20 directional flow in peak
  hours
• Peak Hour One-Way AADT is 4,000

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Traffic Diversion Ramp South End

• 45,000 AADT with 80/20 directional flow in peak
  hours
• Peak Hour One-Way AADT is 4,000

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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Bell Slip Outfall Construction
New 1200 foot long (48 diameter) outfall added
to contract to bypass recently established fish
spawning area and improve water quality of bell
slip. Excavations up to 18 feet deep
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
New Waterline Construction
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Single Stage MSES Wall Construction
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Two Stage MSES Wall Construction
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Two Stage MSES Wall Construction
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations

• Contract includes the first 60 Con-Span Units
  constructed in New York State.
• New 60 Con-Span Units to be installed at
• - Outer Harbor Drive
• - Ohio Street
• - Tifft Nature Preserve

Setting Con-Span Units at Outer Harbor Drive
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Setting Con-Span Units at Outer Harbor Drive
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
Construction Challenges and Innovations
Setting Con-Span Units at Ohio Street
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BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR PARKWAY
A New Beginning for Buffalos Waterfront
Questions and Answers