BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2005

Boston, Massachusetts, is considered the "cradle of liberty" and one of America's most historic cities. Since its founding in 1630, Boston has been a city of innovation, from the start of the war for independence, through the Industrial Revolution, to its current renaissance as an internationally-recognized center of science, technology and education. To accommodate ongoing growth, Boston has developed a number of transportation initiatives designed to re-energize the city center while providing improved access to Boston's many suburban communities. Since 1962, the Berger Group has upgraded transportation in Massachusetts, developing the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstates 495, 93 and 95, Route 116 and Boston's Central Artery. Berger has also assisted the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) since 1983 in improving mass transportation by undertaking a number of major assignments, including a system-wide park and ride facility program, upgrading 18 stations, reconstructing numerous railroad bridges, conducting feasibility studies for the extension of commuter rail to New Bedford and Fall River, and relocating the Green Line between Haymarket and Science Park. Currently, Berger is completing the final phase of the $60 million Green Line relocation between Haymarket and Science Park stations.

The Team designed a cut and cover tunnel, boat sections, concrete transition structures and a steel box girder viaduct, as well as improved signals, communications and power systems for the line. The relocation was complicated by the construction of a section of the massive Central Artery/Tunnel project at the tie-in to Storrow Drive. Team members carefully coordinated construction schedules, conducted extensive noise and vibration studies and prepared comprehensive traffic maintenance plans to reduce the impacts of construction on the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Berger Group also assisted the MBTA's design-build team in the restoration of the suburban Greenbush rail line. For the past 45 years this line has sat empty, however under a new $497 million MBTA project, the 18-mile passenger line between Scituate and Boston will be reconstructed on the existing Greenbush corridor right-of-way. The line will service an estimated 8,400 passengers per day from Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate, providing commuters with an attractive alternative to the crowded highways south of Boston.

The Berger Group provided quality assurance and technical oversight for the design of 30 railroad crossings and four train stations along the line. Berger engineers also assisted in the design of improved traffic and railroad signals, upgraded surrounding stormwater systems and grading and redesigned road/rail intersections.

In addition to improving at-grade crossings, Berger engineers assisted in the replacement of a key road bridge on Stockbridge Road in Scituate to meet current loading and clearance requirements. The Berger team also assisted in the reconstruction of nine other single-span bridges along the line.

The Team provided quality assurance for the environmental permitting, highway grading, drainage and traffic signal designs and stormwater management. Throughout the course of the project, Team members worked with the design-build team, the MBTA, MassHighway and local communities.