1. Modification of the dam to comply with VA Department of Conservation and Recreation (VDCR) requirements to relocate an existing road off the emergency spillway crest to the interior face of the dam, to minimize erosion during emergency spillway usage.
2. Installation of a graded filter at the exterior toe of the dam to control seepage and minimize any threat to the dam, and to eliminate a wet area resulting from the seepage, to facilitate inspection and maintenance at the toe of the dam.
3. Inspection and report and preparation of an Emergency Action Plan and Operations and Maintenance Application for renewal of the dam certification by VDCR.
4. Evaluation, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling; dam break analysis, hazard potential classification, and inundation zone mapping.
5. Dam rehabilitation to install a training dike and complete any other modifications shown needed by the modeling and evaluation of the dam.

Items (1) and (2) were initiated in 2008 and completed with a construction project in 2009.   Services included site inspection and evaluation; survey; design; permitting of construction and dam alterations (separate permits) through VDCR; construction stakeout, inspection and materials testing; construction administration; and asbuilt survey and record drawings. 

Items (3) and (4) were initiated in 2009 and will be completed in 2010.  Services included an application for a Conditional Permit for the dam, including dam inspection and report, VDCR Operations & Maintenance Application update, Emergency Action Plan update, and permit application; topographic survey, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling; dam break analysis using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS computer software; hazard potential classification, inundation zone mapping; and report preparation, submittal to, and approval by VDCR for certification renewal. 

Item (5) is expected to be initiated in 2010 and completed in 2010 or 2011. 

Our professional engineering services include feasibility studies, boundary and topographic survey, subdivision plats and Alta surveys, and geotechnical investigations. Our engineers have prepared construction documents showing site layout, stormwater management features for quality and quantity, erosion and sediment control plans, and utility plans including sanitary sewer design. We assist with carrying these plans through the approval and permitting process. Hurt and Proffitt has also provided a wide range of environmental services for sites that are undeveloped and those that have been previously developed. Our environmental services include Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, asbestos testing, Underground Storage Tank removal observations, soil sampling, and well abandonment services.

Hurt & Proffitt also provided a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), Environmental Review Record (ERR), and funding application to secure Federal funding from USDA-Rural Development to water system improvements. The improvements include two 2 million gallon storage tanks, 40,000 linear feet of 16” transmission line, new SCADA system, and upgrades to a water treatment plant.

The field survey included locating existing bridge components in a manner suitable for design of a new bridge. Existing utilities under the bridge and along approach roadways were designated and mapped in preparation of the future bridge. Cross Sections were taken upstream and downstream for across full width of the flood plain and floodway. This included several large buildings within the flood area. Extensive research was conducted to determine ownership of the property along and under the existing structure. Subdivision plats were prepared and readied for recording in order for City of Salem to acquire additional right-of-way required for construction of the new bridge. Baselines were established and referenced in the field to aid in the future construction process. The project was referenced to the Virginia State Plane Coordinate System by locating City of Salem control network monuments.

Shannon Cotulla, PE, and Bob Hopkins, PE, from our Civil Engineering department, talked to Mrs. Kim Hansen’s technology class at E. C. Glass High School about civil engineering. A slide show of photographs from many of their projects was included. 

Raina Rosado, PE and Tiffany Clifton presented to Mr. Daniel Vanderpol’s drafting class at Heritage High School. Raina gave a brief description of the variety of different projects that civil engineers have done in our Land Development department. Tiffany followed Raina’s presentation with information about environmental issues and the forever changing federal, state, and local regulations that affect civil engineers’ site designs. Tiffany and Raina described how they work as a team to successfully design construction documents to meet the needs of our clients as well as meeting the environmental constraints of a site.

Licensed surveyor, Mike Cassidy met with students to provide information on steps required to pursue licensing in Commonwealth of Virginia. Details were provided on education, experience, and testing required to become a licensed surveyor. Examples of how professional surveying plays a part in civil engineering projects were discussed with the students though project photographs and drawings. Specific local projects were included in the presentation, including the Centra Health Bed Tower and Route 29 Bypass James River Twin Bridges. Students from both schools responded with many questions and appeared to enjoy the real life project examples.

We would like to thank each of the schools for allowing us to meet with students during normal class hours. We appreciate Mrs. Kim Hansen and Mr. Daniel Vanderpol allowing us to visit their classroom. Special thanks to Gary Harvey, chairman of the Technical Drawing Advisory Committee, for coordinating the presentations. Judging by the attention of students during their talk and questions afterwards, the information was well-received and many students are considering pursuing careers in these fields.

This was also the annual Valentine’s dinner meeting for the Southern Chapter where approximately 25 members and guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and fellowship with many surveyors and their spouses. This has turned into the largest meeting for the Chapter during the year. Mr. Erskine Proffitt, LS and his wife Judy, although he has been retired from the firm since 1993, regularly attends the meeting.

The City of Lynchburg had decided to replace the bridge and looked to find the most qualified professionals to perform the engineering and surveying on the project. Hurt & Proffitt was asked to team with their long time partner, Schwartz and Associates, to assist them in surveying. Wayne Schwartz, PE, a licensed structural engineer, and his firm would be in charge of the design and the overall finished product.

Hurt & Proffitt’s survey crews were called in to perform a bridge situation plan and map all the current conditions. Utilities were marked, survey control was tied to the City’s control network, sanitary and storm lines were traced, and property records researched. The field crews located all physical features of the structure and surrounding area. Existing city right-of-way were established, property lines were located, and detailed information was collected on the bridge. The basesheets drafted and then field checked by our surveyor. This was then delivered on time and within budget to Mr. Wayne Schwartz.

After the bridge design was completed, the construction contract was awarded to Fort Chiswell Construction Corporation, a long-standing client of Hurt & Proffitt.  Our Survey Department was then selected to provide construction stakeout for the new construction.  Our surveyors to date have located key points on the existing bridge for demolition and for layout of the new bridge, as well as alignment of new sanitary sewer structures.

Once again, it is H&P’s long standing relationship with our clients and the reputation of our company that has us in the middle of this historic Project. Completion of the project is scheduled for December, 2010.

To read more about other projects H&P is working on, please visit the current edition of our newsletter.

Congratulations, and thanks again for taking the time to support Hurt & Proffitt. We really hope everyone enjoys the content of our quarterly newsletter.

The project also includes replacing one (1) 6” gate valve at the fire hydrant near the north end of the runway. The base bid for the project includes touch read water meter interfaces with associated equipment required to read the meters and generate customer billing statements. Other additive bid items include hand-held radio reading meters and equipment, vehicle-based radio reading meters and equipment, fixed-base radio reading meters and equipment, and water billing software.

The main 430-bed facility is in Lynchburg. In total, the Blue Ridge Regional Jails can be the “temporary home” to more than 900 people. The main facility in Lynchburg is situated between two downtown historical districts. The design reflects the community’s desire to see that it blends nicely with Lynchburg’s existing architecture. Hurt & Proffitt provided all civil engineering, surveying, site planning, environmental assessments, geotechnical investigations, and material testing. Capital costs for the four regional jails totaled more than $60 M.

Hurt & Proffitt is working on all civil aspects of the project including, but not limited to, site plan, grading plan with erosion and sediment control, utility plan, stormwater management plan, landscape plan, site details, and specifications. Hurt & Proffitt was also responsible for all construction testing services including monitoring the fill placement, compaction testing, inspections of foundations, reinforcing steel, masonry construction, fire proof testing, and structural steel.

The first phase consists of the advanced site package and includes construction of a new 153-space parking lot, service drive, utility relocation, management of stormwater quantity and quality, relocation of an existing nursing school building, and other related work.  The proposed new lot will be designed to sync with the new building addition and will allow for more parking spaces to be added with the building construction project (phase 2). 

Phase two consists of site work associated with the building addition, an additional 37-space parking lot, utility connections, relocation of a back-up generator and electrical transformer, and management of stormwater quality and quantity. 

A total of 5.0 acres of land will be disturbed in both phases.  Elevation differentials, utility conflicts and floodway boundary restrictions were some of the challenges faced during the design and construction process.