Earthway Rail Park, Phase 4, Contracts A&B

The Business Route Bypass was designed to relieve the downtown Bristol area of traffic congestion, including significant truck traffic on the SR 15 and SR 120 routes. It was also designed to open undeveloped areas to industrial development, along with providing the availability of railroad connections for new industry. JPR has been involved in the planning and design of all phases of the project.

Phase 4 involved new roadway design to the west leg of the Business Route Bypass, traveling around the Town‘s south side. A new roadway connection to SR 120, west of Bristol, was also needed. To assess the effect on traffic capacity of SR 120, INDOT mandated a Traffic Study. This study aimed to estimate the impact by anticipating the traffic that would be generated by the full development of an industrial expansion due to the new roadway construction.

JPR, having provided INDOT with traffic studies for the previous phases, used the same Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) for all Business Route projects. The Traffic Study for Phase 4 was reviewed and approved by INDOT and involved the addition of left and right turn lanes for both the eastbound and westbound SR 120 roadway. These additions were to be constructed within Contract A of the project phase.

Contract A also included the widening of SR 120, as well as connecting it to the north portion of the Business Route. The timing of Contract A also encompassed the development of the first industrial parcel just south of SR 120, which involved a new railroad connection. A fast-track design approach was required for the new development to access SR 120 when the facility was constructed and ready for business.

Additionally, JPR has performed a geotechnical investigation, topographic survey, design of the new roadway, water main and sanitary sewer extensions into the new industrial development areas, coordination with INDOT and existing affected utilities in the SR 120 corridor, environmental permitting, and INDOT permitting. INDOT permitting included pavement design, roadway drainage contingencies, roadway geometry, and temporary maintenance of traffic for the SR 120 improvements per the approved Traffic Study.

JPR was also involved in construction administration and inspection of the new roadway improvements and has provided a geotechnical investigation and civil site design for the new industrial development south of SR 120.

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