New Haven, CT – The American Council of Engineering (ACEC) Companies of Connecticut presented Tighe & Bond and Yale-New Haven Hospital with an Engineering Excellence Award for the Route 34 Roadway Improvement Project in New Haven.
Tighe & Bond developed roadway improvement concept plans to support the traffic generated by the $467 million Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, as well as to address existing operational and safety deficiencies along the Route 34 expressway and the frontage roads. The firm completed a comprehensive transportation engineering study required by the City of New Haven and the State Traffic Commission. The centerpiece of Tighe & Bond’s design is a modern roundabout, unique in that it is located at the end of the Route 34 Expressway and provides access to a parking garage.
Tighe & Bond also prepared the design for other roadway improvements, including highway ramp widening, geometric modifications along the Route 34 Expressway, widening North Frontage Road to provide additional turning lanes, and the design of a new state-of-the-art traffic control signal system involving 12 traffic signals operated and monitored by the City Traffic Management Center.
During the design phase, Tighe & Bond coordinated with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and City of New Haven to facilitate approvals.
Following the completion of the design and issuance of all permits, Tighe & Bond worked collaboratively with Yale-New Haven Hospital and Turner Construction Company to administer the construction phase of the project. Tighe & Bond provided shop drawing reviews, attended construction conferences, and observed the work.
Construction of the $5 million project started in earnest in May 2008 and was substantially complete by October 2008, meeting an aggressive five month construction schedule. The most significant results of the project include reduced traffic congestion and delays, as well as enhanced public safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
