Across the nation, tens of thousands of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges pose a threat to public safety. McMahon’s technically trained and professionally experienced engineers will assist you in rehabilitation and expansion of aging structures and much more. We participate in bridge inspections and design bridge replacements while protecting our water resources. We take pride in offering you cost-efficient and practical solutions while participating in field inspections, evaluations, analysis, repair, design, hydraulic studies, emergency action plans and construction phase services on projects of all sizes. Count on McMahon dedication and expertise for design and assessment of this critical component to your transportation system.
Bridge Design & Rehabilitation
McMahon provides a full range of bridge services, from initial evaluation to finalizing contract documents. We produce new and rehabilitated designs for all bridge types, ranging from single span to multi-span structures and materials including: steel, concrete, prestressed concrete, and timber. We use our full range of expertise to solve multifaceted and large problems on major projects, while taking care that every detail is considered. Each project is reviewed by our experienced staff to provide the best combination of function, economy, aesthetics and maintenance. Contact us for more information on bridge design and rehabilitation.
Culvert Design
McMahon provides all design services required to install, replace, or extend culverts associated with stream crossings, drainage facilities and pedestrian tunnels. We perform all back-up services needed to acquire the required permitting for these types of projects, including topographic survey, hydrological and hydraulic studies, wetland delineation, erosion and sediment pollution control (E&SC) plans, structural design and detailing, preliminary plans and reports, final construction plans, and bid documents. McMahon also has the expertise and experience to push these types of projects through the various DOT review processes. These processes are required for those projects that utilize State and/or Federal Funds for construction.
Retaining Wall & Sound Wall Design
In addition to our bridge design capabilities, McMahon has staff experience in the design of retaining walls and sound walls. With the ever-rising cost of right-of-way and number of vehicles utilizing our highways today, retaining walls and sound walls are becoming very popular on a variety of transportation projects. McMahon’s engineers will design for you gravity, cantilever, gabion, soldier pile and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls using concrete, masonry and timber. Sound walls can be designed with steel or concrete piles with prefabricated concrete panels with aesthetic treatments. Contact us today so we can provide you assistance on your project.
Bridge Inspections (NBIS) & Bridge Load Ratings
McMahon provides a wide-range of bridge inspection and load rating services for local and state owned bridges. McMahon has several certified inspectors on staff, who have inspected thousands of bridges throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida and Massachusetts. If you know you need a certain type of inspection, look to us for:
- Initial (NBIS) Inventory and Inspection, includes PONTIS and I-Forms
- Routine NBIS Inspection - every 24 months
- Interim Inspection
- Critical Deficiency Inspection, includes meeting with local bridge owners to discuss critical structure deficiencies
McMahon’s staff is also experienced in performing bridge load ratings and have completed over 2,000 load ratings in Pennsylvania as members of the QA/QC contract for PennDOT’s Central Office. The types of bridges range from box culverts to multi-span steel/concrete structures to stone/concrete arches to steel through-truss structures.
Dam Safety Inspections
A failure in even a small dam can cause injury and severe damage to public infrastructure and private property. Whether it is an existing earth embankment, concrete gravity, or stone masonry structure our engineers have the experience to provide detailed dam safety inspections. Look to McMahon engineers for a site investigation that focuses on current dam conditions relating to seepage, abnormal movement, stability, extent and location of vegetation, and the performance and condition of the spillway and other hydraulic structures.
Dam Design/Rehabilitation & Permitting
If you need immediate or long-term solutions to dam problems, McMahon knows how to navigate you through the process. We provide conceptual through final design services for new and aging dams, including permitting phase services. Our services include spillway, outlet, and embankment design and analysis. In the murky waters of environmental permitting, know that McMahon has successfully steered projects through the State and Federal process, including the USACE Individual permit. Other permits you may need include: state wetland, Section 106 historic, and threatened and endangered species clearances.
Emergency Action Plans for Dams (EAPs)
The growing age and worsening condition of our nation’s dams has led to agency-mandated Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for High Hazard and Significant Hazard Dams. A sound EAP will help you respond to a potential dam failure. McMahon contributes to your plan by providing you with a quality hydraulic analysis of dam breach potential and identifying areas of potential flooding (dam inundation maps). McMahon’s commitment to excellence includes always using the latest GIS technology for modeling and mapping for the production of a quality EAP and assigning the best-trained professional for your job. Contact us so we can support you in developing a practical and effective EAP.
Hydrologic & Hydraulic Studies
Call on McMahon for the expertise to provide you with cost-effective solutions to analyze, store, transfer, or protect your water resource, whether the solution is simple or complex. We provide complete hydrologic and hydraulic design services for a variety of disciplines, including transportation, dams, large scale water resources, and stormwater management. Our engineers model watersheds from a fraction of an acre to thousands of square miles to determine design flows for roadside channels, dams, or stormwater best management practices and stay current with the latest software and numerous design methodologies.
