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Impressive design and construction awards have been bestowed on the new Marc Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet.

Design and construction of the new bridge met challenges of harsh marine environment with innovative approaches.

NCDOT asked for a 100-year service life. The state agency prescribed a robust concrete mix and, for the first time, asked for cast-in-place concrete to be reinforced with stainless steel for erosion protection and less maintenance.

To address these challenges, the bridge’s design-build team settled on using precast concrete, where the manufacturing environment could be controlled. The use of precast concrete for structural elements is extensive in the new bridge.

To combat scour, the team designed innovative foundations.

“HDR is proud to have been part of the team that delivered the Basnight bridge, but we are always quick to point out that we were just part of that team . . . we were the firm that produced the final design,” wrote Domenic Coletti, project manager for HDR Inc.

“Others worked on the planning project, preliminary designs, and of course final construction of the bridge,” continued Coletti. “A tremendous amount of credit is due to the literally hundreds of planning, design and construction professionals who contributed to the success of this project over a period of time spanning nearly 30 years. NCDOT, PCL Civil Constructors and many others deserve a huge share in the credit, not only for their own individual excellence, but for their constant spirit of partnership and teamwork.

On the design-build team were contractors PCL Civil Constructors and HDR, Inc., for design and engineering. PCL led the project. Both are employee-owned businesses. The cost was $252 million. The bridge length is 2.8 miles. The bridge was substantially completed Feb. 25, 2019.

Awards currently number 11. Some were awarded in 2019. Others are for 2020.

– Number 2 Bridge Project in 2019 in North America. The bridge was awarded this designation by Roads and Bridges Magazine. The designation is based on challenges, impact to region and scope of work.

– Project of the Year in 2019. The American Society of Civil Engineers, North Carolina Section. This state-level award is for design excellence.

– Globe Award in 2019. American Road and Transportation Builders Association. Awarded to HDR, Inc. and PCL Civil Constructors for protecting the natural environment during planning and construction. The bridge won first place in projects over $100 million.

– Outstanding Project Award (2019). Deep Foundations Institute. This international award is specifically for the bridge’s innovative foundation design. The award is presented to HDR, Inc., PCL Civil Constructors and North Carolina Department of Transportation.

– Award of Excellence (2019), American Segmental Bridge Institute. This international-level award was presented for the main spans of the Basnight bridge, which use a segmentally-constructed, post-tensioned concrete box girder. The bridge over Oregon Inlet won in the category “Bridges over Water.”

– Best Project (2019), Highway/Bridge, Engineering News-Record Southeast. This regional award for the Oregon Inlet bridge won the top honor in the highway/bridge category for the southeastern United States.

– Finalist, Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award (2020), American Society of Civil Engineers. Awarded annually since 1960, this international-level award recognizes civil engineering excellence. For the top achievement award, the Marc Basnight Bridge is competing against nine other finalists, including a spillway, a viaduct, locks and dam, an interchange, a tower, another bridge. Competitors come from across the United States, Canada and Scotland. The overall winner and two runners up will be announced March 13, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

– Grand Award for Engineering Excellence (2020) from the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina. The Oregon Inlet bridge project goes forward to compete at the national level. Awards will be announced in Washington, D.C., April 28.

– Design Award (2020). Transportation, Best Main Span Bridge More than 150 Feet. Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. This national level award is in a category limited to bridges with main spans longer than 150 feet. The main spans of the Marc Basnight Bridge are 350 feet long.

– Design Award (2020). Sustainable Design Category, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. This is a second award won from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute. The national award was in the category of sustainable design, which encompasses environmental sensitivity (protecting the environment, recycling, designing structures that last longer and so have less impact on the environment, etc.).

– Construction Excellence Award (2020). Carolinas Association of General Contractors. This statewide award was won by PCL Civil Constructors for the project and specifically reflects the construction of the bridge.

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