The JBLM Unity Bridge, also known as the Joint Base Access Corridor, was a design-build project providing the first phase of linkage between the Lewis and McChord sites of Joint Base Lewis-McChord after becoming a joint base in October 2010. The project involved horizontal and vertical construction with roadways, a roundabout and a bridge over the BNSF Railroad and the publically accessible 150th Street/Perimeter Road to connect Lewis Main and McChord Field.

 

As Design Manager, AHBL worked with the design/build team to break the project into 3 design packages in order to meet the critical path schedule. Design Package 1 (DP-1) involved clearing activities so that tree cutting activities could be completed outside the migratory bird nesting period (Mid-May through August) in order to be compliant with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  The 100% DP-1 and Corrected Final DP-1 packages were prepared, submitted, and approved by the Government in two months.

Design Package 2 (DP-2) involved the vertical and horizontal construction including the roadways and bridges and the originally proposed “T” intersection (which was later modified to a roundabout). DP-2 was completed in less than 8 months. Because of the need to change the “T” intersection to a Roundabout, Design Package 3 was created. AHBL prepared a schematic design of the roundabout for the Government’s approval in just 10 days. Once the Government approved the schematic design, AHBL accelerated the design work to ensure the schedule would be met. We prepared the final design for the roundabout in just 2 weeks’ time.

The project celebrated its grand opening in May 2015, which exceeded the scheduled completion date. In October 2015, AHBL and the construction team were recognized with a 2015 Small Business Silver Award for Design Excellence from the Society of American Military Engineers, Seattle/ Mt. Tacoma Post