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Route 79/I-195 Interchange Improvements

Fall River and Somerset, MA

To restore regional multimodal mobility and reestablish community connectivity, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) partnered with VHB to deliver sustainable, structurally safe infrastructure solutions that improved access and safety for roadway users at the Route 79 and I-195 interchange.  

As the lead designer, VHB was responsible for interim and final traffic-related elements including signage, pavement markings, and state-of-the-art end-state traffic signals. The design-build project is located within the downtown city center, adjacent to major tourist and historic destinations, and involved several major interstate and local highways.

The VHB Team’s innovative approach guided MassDOT through the construction of this complex design-build project in several phases, so that the road maintained a high level of functionality throughout the project. It was also critical to both the City of Fall River and the regional transportation system that traffic congestion be minimized throughout construction. VHB accomplished this through development of detailed traffic control and management measures for the duration of the project, employing industry-leading technology to facilitate real-time adjustments.

The Route 79 and I-195 interchange in Fall River, Massachusetts. Construction on The Route 79 and I-195 interchange in Fall River, Massachusetts. The Route 79 and I-195 interchange in Fall River, MA under construction.

Project Highlights

  • Successful development of early action submittal packages
  • Environmental permitting coordination with multiple agencies
  • Extensive bridge & highway construction on interchange while maintaining traffic
  • HazMat handling, testing, stockpiling & disposal
  • Complex utility coordination

Client

  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Services

  • Alternative Delivery

  • Bridge Design

  • Design-Build

  • Drainage​ Design

  • Environmental Impact Analysis

  • Highway/Roadway Design & Engineering

  • Interchange Design & Engineering

  • Intersection Design & Engineering

  • Traffic Management & Operations

  • Stormwater Design & Engineering

  • Utilities Design

Awards

  • ACEC-MA Grand Conceptor Award, 2017 Engineering Excellence

  • ENR New England Regional 2017 Best Project, Highway/Bridges Category

  • DBIA New England Silver Award for Best Project 2017

  • APWA 2017 National Public Works Project of the Year (>$75M)

  • 2016 National AGC Safety Excellence Award—Bridge Division (Aetna for Braga Bridge)

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