Description of Services
As part of the I-95 corridor improvements in New Haven, Connecticut, Reliance Engineers led the geotechnical program management for the Q Bridge Replacement Project, a major infrastructure initiative involving the replacement of the I-95 bridge over New Haven Harbor. This project required a comprehensive understanding of deep foundation behavior in complex subsurface conditions, as well as the integration of advanced geotechnical and seismic analyses.
Reliance developed and implemented a pilot boring program for the harbor crossing, designed to assess highly variable soil and rock conditions at significant depths. Several boreholes were advanced to depths exceeding 400 feet (122 meters) to fully characterize the subsurface profile and inform foundation design. As part of the site-specific seismic hazard evaluation, Suspension P-S Logging was performed in seven boreholes to obtain compression and shear wave velocities, supporting dynamic site response modeling and seismic design parameters.
In parallel with the subsurface investigations, Reliance planned and managed a comprehensive pile load testing program, involving 23 test piles across four sites along the I-95 and I-91 corridors. The testing program included static and dynamic load tests to evaluate axial and lateral performance and optimize foundation design for various bridge components. Coordination included instrumentation, contractor oversight, and real-time data interpretation to inform design refinement and risk mitigation.
This work was critical in developing a safe and reliable deep foundation strategy for one of the most significant transportation infrastructure projects in the region, supporting long-span bridge structures over a sensitive marine and urban environment.