Woolpert has been hired to collect and process data of highway condition assets for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), as a subconsultant to Leidos. Woolpert will conduct a random sampling of assets on roadways throughout the state, evaluate the assets according to standard VDOT criteria and grade the performance of those assets. The firm will then process all of the data collected for this project and submit it to Leidos for the final analysis.
Woolpert Project Manager Keith Tolison said there are more than 40 types of assets being collected and assessed, including guardrails, signs, pavement markers, ditches and fences. He noted that this information not only allows the state to identify assets in need of repair, but also to understand whether funds are being appropriately allocated.
“Assets have to maintain a certain criteria level to ensure that the roadways function safely,” Tolison said. “Some assets are being maintained really well and meeting the required criteria, while others fall below the minimum acceptable levels. These inspections allow officials the flexibility of shifting their funding to bring those assets in line. It shows the department where they’re spending money, if it’s warranted, and how they should budget for the long term.”
Woolpert has performed condition analyses across the state for several years, dating to when VDOT contracted for its interstate maintenance work. The firm evaluated the contractors’ performance using the same criteria, which was developed by VDOT.
“They know us, they know we have a clean safety record, and that we are efficient and accurate,” Tolison said. “We know what they’re looking for and understand stormwater structure, transportation engineering, asset management, etc. We can take their criteria and apply it in the field, and we can turn the data over quickly.”
This project under Leidos is one of many that Woolpert is performing for VDOT. Woolpert also is the prime contractor on a statewide surveying contract with the department, as well as a statewide contract to provide construction closeout services, recording and auditing materials used for roads and bridges throughout Virginia.
“All of these contracts are built around safety,” Tolison said. “VDOT does an outstanding job of making sure the people of Virginia are traveling on roadways that deliver them home, safe and sound. We are just glad to be a part of it.”
This contract will get underway in March and is scheduled to be completed in November 2019.
Ken Briodagh is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh
