The U.S Route 1 Road Widening Improvements project in Fort Belvoir, Virginia is a recipient of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia Honor Award in the 2018 Engineering Excellence Awards.
Straughan Environmental, Inc. (Straughan) was a subconsultant on this project providing environmental permitting and acoustical consulting services. The proposed roadway improvements included the widening of the existing four-lane section of Route 1 to six through lanes, with turn lanes, a 4-foot outside bike path at intersections, and a sidewalk, a multi-use trail, and a 32-foot-wide median to be reserved for future public transit. Also, the project involved widening of the existing bridge over Accotink Creek and the extension of pipes and culverts currently transporting water beneath the existing roadway and the addition of rip-rap at the outfalls.
Straughan was responsible for the wetland and stream impact permitting services associated with this design/build project as well as preparing the Highway Traffic Noise Analysis and Noise Abatement Design. The project involved a Type I traffic noise analysis for 14 Common Noise Environments (CNE’s) and mitigation analysis of five traffic noise barrier systems. Noise barrier design included a constructability assessment considering minimizing the impact to multiple existing underground and overhead utilities, safety and maintenance considerations, and optimization of the barrier length and profiles. The acoustical analysis was reviewed and approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as well as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).