If you’ve recently crossed the McClugage Bridge, you’ve likely marveled at the sight of towering cranes and dedicated construction crews tirelessly working on the ambitious project. What may come as a surprise is the pivotal role played by Maurer-Stutz in this construction feat.

Our excitement stems from being a crucial part of the team providing construction engineering services to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge. This vital artery carries US Route 150 over the Illinois River in the metropolitan Peoria area. Leading the charge is a collaborative effort between Michael Baker International and HR Green, spearheading the creation of a new tied-arch bridge boasting three through lanes, two full-width shoulder lanes, and a connected 14’ multi-use path, complete with a south-facing belvedere. The dedicated staff at Maurer-Stutz takes on the responsibility of conducting quality assurance checks, ensuring not only the integrity of the new river bridge elements but also overseeing all approach work and widening along eastbound US Route 150 on both the eastern and western sides of the river crossing.

After more than seven decades of serving the Peoria Metro Area, the aging existing structure of the McClugage Bridge, accommodating over 20,000 eastbound trips daily, prompted the Illinois Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, to embark on a comprehensive study. This study, which included extensive public input, led to the decision to replace the McClugage Bridge. With the design phase now completed, construction on the new structure commenced in Spring 2019. The upcoming bridge is poised to enhance capacity, elevate safety standards, reduce travel times, and offer additional multimodal access with accommodations for biking and pedestrians. Ultimately, the new McClugage Bridge promises an improved and smoother traveling experience for everyone who relies on this essential bridge.

In his role as the Quality Assurance Surveyor, Scott shoulders a range of responsibilities. This includes ensuring proper soil settlement rates, overseeing Arch Erection activities for precise alignment, and surveying the construction of new bridge piers. Moreover, Scott has been instrumental in employing advanced technologies such as LiDAR and Aerial Photogrammetric techniques for Earthwork Volume Calculations, as well as conducting high-accuracy Control Leveling.

Young Surveyor of the Year is awarded by the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association. IPLSA. This award recognizes “A young member who has made outstanding contributions to the land surveying profession and their communities during the early years of their career.” Areas considered for the award are educational and collegiate achievements, professional society activities, civic and humanitarian activities, continuing competence, land surveying achievements, and professional experience.

Scott Perry of Maurer-Stutz was presented with this award last week during the IPLSA Annual Conference. Congratulations Scott on your achievement!

Scott Perry grew up in the land surveying business, starting with working part time in his father’s surveying practice. While working at Dennis A. Perry Land Surveying, Scott learned how to interpret plats, find evidence, measure, operate the instruments, and set property corners. He was an avid learner and, when he was just a junior in high school, he told his father he too wanted to be a surveyor. Scott set out on a plan that would help him achieve that dream. He attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and graduated Cum Laude in the class of 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and the required 24 semester hours of surveying under Professor Roy Frank. Scott was immediately employed by Maurer-Stutz, Inc. in Peoria, Illinois where he has continued to grow professionally. Scott earned his Professional Land Surveying license in 2018 and implemented an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program and currently serves as Project Surveyor and UAV pilot and program coordinator.

Some of Scott’s Civic and Humanitarian Activities include:

• Illinois Air National Guard 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, IL. March 2006

• Airport firefighter from March 2006 to May 2012

• Achieved rank of Lieutenant and was appointed Operations Officer from May 2012 to Sept. 2017

• Achieved rank of Captain and appointed Civil Engineer Squadron Commander Sept. 2017 to present.

• Deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Sept. 2008 – Jan. 2009

• Deployed to Middle East in support of Operation Inherent Resolve July 2015 to Feb. 2016.

• Volunteer firefighter with the Spring Bay Fire Protection District May 2006 – present.

• Achieved rank of Lieutenant 2011 – present

After a long season of construction, the MacArthur Highway Bridge will reopen to traffic tonight after the work day! Since closing last March, an extensive overhaul of the 1942 structure and adjacent roadways, at a $5.3 million cost, has been completed. The use by roughly 8,000 cars a day will reconnect Downtown Peoria and the West Bluff. Some landscaping work will be completed starting in the Spring of 2019.

The construction included over 5,900 square yards of concrete pavement, roughly 3,181 cubic yards of Cellular Lightweight Concrete Fill, 6,832 feet of pavement markings, 1,835 feet of Combination Curb and Gutter, and nearly 318,000 pounds of Epoxy Coated Reinforcement steel bars.

Maurer-Stutz’s role included Phase III Construction Resident Engineering for the new construction of a single span urban bridge with a cast-in-place deck on top of steel I-beams with cast-in-place arched fascia beams.andnbsp; The closed abutments were set on 16” metal shell piling and the bridge also included sidewalk and bike trail accented by a Texas rail on both sides of the bridge.andnbsp; Other features included Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls, bio-swales, and dry wells.andnbsp; Maurer-Stutz provided complete IDOT related resident engineering services including checking of layout, field inspection of all phases of demolition, pile driving, rebar and concrete placement, embankment and approach roadway construction.andnbsp; Tasks also included public awareness efforts and coordination meetings.

Curtis Lynn, PE served as the Resident Engineer. Some of his resume includes experience in on-site construction observation on IDOT, local agency and private projects including site developments, roads and bridges, power plants, parking decks, wastewater handling facilities and agricultural facilities.andnbsp; He has also worked at Maurer-Stutz in disciplines such as survey, roadway design, wastewater LTCP’s and structural design on various projects throughout Illinois. Curtis joined Maurer-Stutz in 2007.andnbsp;

Curtis was assisted by Bret Naugle, PG. Bret began his employment with Maurer-Stutz, Inc. in 2003.andnbsp; Prior to Maurer-Stutz, Bret worked for Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc., which changed names throughout his employment to QST, Harding ESE, and Mactec and is now known as AMEC.andnbsp; The majority of Bret’s career has been as an Environmental Geologist conducting environmental site assessments, subsurface investigations, soil and groundwater sampling, site remediation, leaking underground storage tank and RCRA compliance services, and preparation of various environmental and engineering reports.andnbsp; In addition, Bret has experience with mold investigations, land surveying, and lead, asbestos, and radon sampling.andnbsp; While continuing to perform environmental services at Maurer-Stutz, Bret has also been involved in many livestock facility projects involving soils/geological investigations, design of livestock waste systems, permitting, and report generation.andnbsp; Over the last several years Bret has been assigned to various IDOT/transportation engineering projects including roadway improvements, replacement of interstate bridges, and bicycle trail construction to observe construction, inspect materials, and document quantities for IDOT.