RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. (collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Bowman”) (NASDAQ: BWMN) announced its selection by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (“PTC”) as principal adviser regarding preliminary investigations and final draft for the proposed 400-500 Million Dollar Allegheny Tunnel Transportation Improvement Project in Western Pennsylvania (the “Project”). As Principal Consultant, Bowman will lead all associated design services as well as lead a team of environmental, structural, geotechnical and surveying contractors experienced in large-scale, multi-faceted transportation projects. The direct contract was awarded to Bowman’s wholly owned McMahon subsidiary. Although the exact grant amount has not yet been determined and will depend on the final scope of work, Turnpike has initially approved $16 million to begin preliminary design, with additional allocations to be determined as the project progresses.
The Allegheny Tunnel project will be one of the largest and most complex mainline projects in the history of the PA Turnpike. The project consists primarily of bypassing the existing tunnel by realigning and constructing approximately 3.8 miles of new PA turnpike road around the south side of the existing tunnel. Other components of the project include the construction of a large mainline bridge, several smaller mainline structures and culverts, a wildlife bridge, retaining walls, and the assessment, stabilization and rehabilitation of an old landslide area.
“The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has dedicated extensive resources to determine the best solutions to the ongoing problems with the Allegheny Tunnel,” said Gary Graham, PE, Bowman’s regional chief engineer. “We are confident that our team of experts will deliver a project outcome that benefits local communities and addresses environmental concerns, while providing a safer route for all traveling through this important corridor.”
“The Allegheny Tunnel project is critical to reducing congestion and improving mobility in this mountainous corridor where we continue to see increasing traffic, particularly from commercial airlines,” said PTC chief engineer Brad Heigel. “A key objective is to improve traveler safety by reducing the frequency and severity of accidents. To counteract this, traffic will bypass the tunnels and travel on a wider, more modern carriageway with gentler curves and gradients that meet today’s design criteria.”
Heigel explained that the structural condition of the 82-year-old tunnel continued to deteriorate. “Although the facility is safe enough to handle traffic, it will require costly rehabilitation in the years to come if it is to remain operational,” he said. “However, such a recovery would not meet critical requirements such as congestion and security.”
By bypassing the tunnels, the tractor units loaded with dangerous goods would no longer have to drive on local roads. “Federal regulations restrict the movement of certain hazardous materials through tunnels, forcing truckers to exit our system and haul their cargo through the region’s cities and towns. Keeping these carriers on the PA Turnpike is a much safer alternative than using local routes.”
“This selection expands Bowman’s recent string of significant transportation infrastructure contracts, including project awards from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Illinois Toll Roads Authority,” said Gary Bowman, Bowman chairman and CEO. “We remain focused on increasing the concentration of transportation revenue in our business and this award demonstrates further achievement for that commitment. It takes a team of talented and dedicated professionals to secure an award like this and I’m proud to have such a group here at Bowman.”
The Allegheny Transportation Project was first initiated by the PTC in 1996. Since then numerous alternatives for open cut and new tunnel designs have been evaluated and the gray cut alternative has been recommended as offering the best balance between operational, safety, cost and environmental considerations. With this price selection, the project moves into the preliminary design phase, which includes further evaluation of the preferred alternative and recommendation of a final alignment configuration.
About Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. (Bowman): Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Bowman is an engineering services company providing infrastructure solutions to customers who own, design and maintain the built environment. With approximately 1,700 employees in more than 70 offices across the United States, Bowman provides a variety of design, engineering, geospatial, construction management, commissioning, environmental consulting, real estate procurement, and other technical services to clients active in a variety of… regulated end markets . Bowman is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol BWMN. Visit bowman.com or investors.bowman.com for more information.
About the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC): PTC operates and maintains 565 miles of toll roads in the Commonwealth of PA with a staff of 1,300. Headquartered in Middletown, PA, PTC generated $1.5 billion in annual toll revenue from 200 million transactions in fiscal 2022. Known as “America’s First Superhighway,” the Pennsylvania Turnpike opened to traffic on October 1, 1940. More information at www. paturnpike.com.