MD 404 Dualization

Brudis & Associates, Inc. (BAI) provided professional transportation engineering design services for Contract B of the design/build project to widen MD Route 404 from US Route 50 to MD 404 Business (Denton) from two lanes to four lanes with access management (approximately 12 miles). Contract B limits were approximately 4.5 miles and included the design of four Access Roads for access management, approximately 60 acres of right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation. BAI prepared preliminary design plans, cost estimates and specifications (RFP/RFQ) for the design-build advertisement. BAI’s design and management responsibilities for this project with estimated construction cost of $160 million. Preliminary design was on an accelerated schedule to ensure the construction of the entire corridor could be completed within one construction season. All preliminary design, cost estimates, RFQ/RFP, permits, etc. were completed within a six month time frame to ensure the design/build team had sufficient time to complete construction, especially with the construction restrictions along the corridor triggered by the various endangered species. BAI’s design efforts included:

Highway Design:

BAI was responsible for all preliminary highway design services for approximately 4.5 miles of roadway widening along MD Route 404. The design involved upgrading the existing roadway from a two lane undivided highway with no access control to a four lane divided highway with partial access control and the construction of four new Access Roads (approximately 1 mile).

• Design included developing horizontal and vertical alignments, roadway cross sections, grading, pavement reconstruction, auxiliary lanes (accel/decel), typical roadway sections including lane widths, pavement dimensions, super-elevation charts, shoulder and safety grading, traffic barrier, etc.
• BAI developed a preliminary roadway corridor model utilizing Inroads to establish approximate cut/fill limits, earthwork quantities, impacts, right-of-way needs, and identified storm water management locations and the anticipated type/size of facility. The design also included a 25 foot wide utility corridor along the toe of slope for utility relocation.
• BAI also developed intersection geometry for seven intersections along the MD 404 corridor including the design of accel/decel lanes, intersection access control, and bike compatibility. For safety purposes, BAI developed s-shaped concrete medians at each intersection to prohibit left-turn maneuvers. BAI also installed a series of ‘J-Turns’ spaced every 1200’ along MD 404 to safely allow U-turn and Left-turn maneuvers onto driveways or farm roads. The J-turns were designed to accommodate emergency response vehicles or large farm equipment.
• BAI also conducted a detailed AASHTO compliance review of the entire roadway based on the existing and proposed conditions according to the controlling criteria by FHWA. This included analysis of the horizontal/vertical alignment, super elevation, auxiliary lanes, structures, sight distance, clear zones, grades, etc. The data was compiled to determine areas of non-compliance. In areas of non-compliance, BAI determined if design exceptions were necessary or if improvements were justified.
• Storm Water Management: BAI was responsible for all SWM design including the development of concept plans, reports, calculations, etc. These were submitted to SHA-PRD for a conditional SWM approval – Letter of Intent (LOI). The site was evaluated in accordance with the Maryland Storm Water Management Guidelines for State and Federal Projects (April 2010). BAI implemented environmental site design to the maximum extent practicable (MEP) by utilizing various ESD facilities in conjunction with 16 quantity control ponds.
• Since the project resulted in a net increase of site imperviousness, BAI developed and submitted a concept SWM report and plan depicting the site layout with ESD target volumes, existing and proposed drainage areas, environmental resources/land uses, water quality, etc. Due to the presence of a high water table throughout the project corridor, many infiltration ESD facilities were not able to be used – including bio-swales and micro-biorention. As such, BAI utilized a series of wet-swales with earth check dams in combination with submerged gravel wetlands.