To all my Civil Engineering friends! (Specifically those working on roads/bridges) 1

[jekriez]

Hello,
I am a mechanical engineer with a PE licence, and was contacted by a civil engineer friend about a highway proposal their company was putting in that asked for the inclusion of a licenced engineer to handle any mechanical design issues. It was not made clear what this may be, and my friend had never seen this before. It sounds like a promising part time gig, but I was wondering if anyone else has seen something like this or has any idea what the nature of any mechanical design would be on a highway project.

Thanks.

 

[bridgebuster]

What's your particular area of expertise? Off the top of my head, could there be a need for a pump station? A movable gate?We've also used ME's for fire stand pipe designs; sometimes an owner wants one installed on a bridge. If it's a moveable bridge there'll be plenty of machinary.

 

[oldestguy]

Rest area rest rooms probably are in the job. Waste disposal and water supply needed, some with mechanical phases. Some even have their own sewage treatment plants.

 

[jekriez]

I primarily work on mobile equipment powertrain (I break the road). Depending on the complexity, I am confident that I can cover some other areas. The expectation was that it would be a short term, part time deal. I think this may actually be for a toll road.

 

[chicopee]

Take the job regardless of what it is as you will be exposed to a myriad of activities. This is an opportunity of a life time that you don't want to miss. I am a CT PE and I was involved in bridge construction for 10 years and the experience is priceless. Other than some of the topics mentioned by the above responders, you may get involved in ventilation problems of confined spaces, dewatering of coffer dams with mud suckers and airlift pumps, crane specifications for activities on land and over water as long as you understand and be able to modify load charts, transportation of heavy equipment and materials such as tub girders and the list can go on as long as you are you want to be involved with management and willing to spend many hours on the jobs and office. Good luck.

 

[bimr]

If the bridge included an underpass that was under grade (ie. railroad underpass), then you may be working on a stormwater pump station. I recently completed one of these.

 

[Althalus]

1) Gates--especially automated ones.
2) Toll booths (AC, automated traffic arms, equipment for the toll plaza, motorized signage, powered traffic signs and signals).
3) Does the bridge need to be lifted for boat traffic underneath? That would be MAJOR. I don't know if I'd take that job if you haven't done it before. You might know machines. But there may be different codes that apply with which you are unfamiliar.
4) Truck weigh stations.
5) Vehicle maintenance stations. This could include pumps and sprays for washing, or possibly a "govt vehicle only" gas station.

 

[fattdad]

there are also thermal piling that have an antifreeze liquid coursing through bridge piles. The antifreeze is used to keep ice off the deck.

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

 

[brandonbw]

If you are ready to learn something new, I agree with Chicopee. Just don't give a low flat rate for your fees. Have a flat rate with hourly fees for excess work. Like all of the above said, there is something worse that will popup. There always is, count on it.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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