I-79 Interchange

Derck & Edson was part of a multi-disciplinary team that worked to design innovative storm water management solutions for the new Interstate 79 and US Route 322/6 Interchange. The interchange improvement required that the north and south bound bridges of I-79 be replaced with new bridge structures at a higher elevation. The elevated overpass required that each on and off ramp would be reconfigured to align with the new bridges. The new ramps encircled four infield areas that the design team targeted as areas for storm water management.

The approach to these infield areas included sculptural landscape solutions that demonstrate creative reuse and repurposing of construction waste materials. All the concrete rubble and deconstructed slabs from the existing bridges were incorporated into the design of the storm water management areas and the erosion control features. To augment the sculptural land forms and storm water management features, large waves of native grasses were planted as well as areas of wildflowers and wetland plantings to highlight the individual ecosystems within the infield areas.

The entire project team was recognized for our work on this project with the 2010 Diamond Award for Engineering Excellence by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC/PA). The multi-disciplinary team included: Allegheny College’s Center for Economic & Environmental Development (CEED); Sucevic, Piccolomini, and Kuchar (SP&K) Engineering; Deiss & Halmi Engineering; and environmental reclamation artist Angelo Ciotti.