Several officers from the PDCA Northeast Chapter stand with 2025 Professional Development Course presenters
The PDCA Northeast Chapter delivered a compelling case study on a NJ-DOT bridge project to deep foundations professionals from New Jersey and neighboring states. Notable about this project was that value engineering determined that driven piling was the more cost-effective solution to support the replacement structure for the WittPenn Bridge which spans the Hackensack River in Hudson County.
The 2025 Northeast Chapter Professional Development Course featured a comprehensive presentation of this case study which brought together stakeholders in the bridge construction, including Michael Baker International, the firm retained to perform the value engineering, the NJ-DOT state geotechnical engineer, the engineering firm charged pile testing on the project, and the contractor which performed pile installation. That contractor was George Harms Construction Company (GHC), which also hosted the annual program at it's Howell, NJ assembly room. GHC traditionally hosts and sponsors the Course each year for the Northeast Chapter, which develops the program content. This year, the Chapter zeroed in on presentations around one regional project that contained components that would give an audience a rare and detailed understanding of important considerations surrounding deep foundation design..
Following a welcome message and announcements from Chapter President David Price and VP Tim Fogerty, as well as safety guidance for attendees gathered in the meeting facility from GHC, the program began at 9:00 AM. The first segment was a three-hour time block in which Joe Romano, PE from Michael Baker Construction, and his colleague Michael Yang, PE, a VP at the firm, presented a detailed case study entitled Driven Pile Alternatives & Value Engineering - Case Study NJDOT Rt. 7 Wittpenn Bridge Contract 4, N.J. (Part 1). Mohab Hussein, PE from the New Jersey DOT joined the contracted engineers to provide perspectives from the project owner. The trio discussed historical context on the bridge structure, design considerations, geotechnical significance of the foundation design, challenges, and environmental constraints. And they diverged into great detail, the value engineering approach on issues such as geotechnical parameters, soil condidtions, re-evaluation of footing sizes, and design.
After lunch, Mr. Yang led the talk with Part 2 of the Case Study, which involved re-design of the footings, the dynamic forces in the design, design consideration, and other aspects.
To conclude the program, Alex Ryberg, PE from GRL Engineers presented Pile Dynamic Analysis (PDA) - A look at the PDCA analysis and specifics to Ram A & C Value Engineering Design. This portion explained how data was generated to thoroughly inform the value engineering conclusions.
The 2025 Northeast Chapter Professional Development Course featured a comprehensive presentation of this case study which brought together stakeholders in the bridge construction, including Michael Baker International, the firm retained to perform the value engineering, the NJ-DOT state geotechnical engineer, the engineering firm charged pile testing on the project, and the contractor which performed pile installation. That contractor was George Harms Construction Company (GHC), which also hosted the annual program at it's Howell, NJ assembly room. GHC traditionally hosts and sponsors the Course each year for the Northeast Chapter, which develops the program content. This year, the Chapter zeroed in on presentations around one regional project that contained components that would give an audience a rare and detailed understanding of important considerations surrounding deep foundation design..
Following a welcome message and announcements from Chapter President David Price and VP Tim Fogerty, as well as safety guidance for attendees gathered in the meeting facility from GHC, the program began at 9:00 AM. The first segment was a three-hour time block in which Joe Romano, PE from Michael Baker Construction, and his colleague Michael Yang, PE, a VP at the firm, presented a detailed case study entitled Driven Pile Alternatives & Value Engineering - Case Study NJDOT Rt. 7 Wittpenn Bridge Contract 4, N.J. (Part 1). Mohab Hussein, PE from the New Jersey DOT joined the contracted engineers to provide perspectives from the project owner. The trio discussed historical context on the bridge structure, design considerations, geotechnical significance of the foundation design, challenges, and environmental constraints. And they diverged into great detail, the value engineering approach on issues such as geotechnical parameters, soil condidtions, re-evaluation of footing sizes, and design.
After lunch, Mr. Yang led the talk with Part 2 of the Case Study, which involved re-design of the footings, the dynamic forces in the design, design consideration, and other aspects.
To conclude the program, Alex Ryberg, PE from GRL Engineers presented Pile Dynamic Analysis (PDA) - A look at the PDCA analysis and specifics to Ram A & C Value Engineering Design. This portion explained how data was generated to thoroughly inform the value engineering conclusions.
Northeast Chapter Pres. David Price opens the program for the 2025 Professional Development Course. VP Tim Fogerty and GHC coordinator Sam Hahn stand to his left.
GHC Environmental, Health and Safety Coordinator Sam Hahn began the program
with an informational presentation about safety in the meeting facility.
with an informational presentation about safety in the meeting facility.
Joe Romano, PE, VP and NE Regional Bridge Lead at Michael Baker International
presents a portion of the case study.
presents a portion of the case study.
Mohab Hussein, PE, State Geotechnical Engineer, NJ-DOT
presents a portion of the case study.
presents a portion of the case study.
Michael Yang, PE, Associate VP, Geotechnical Manager at Michael Baker International presents a portion of the case study.
Alex Ryberg, PE, Senior Engineer at GRL Engineers, Inc. give a Pile Dynamic Analysis (PDCA) on the WittPenn Bridge ramp design.
Attendees hear compelling presentations about the value engineering involved in the WittPenn Bridge design.
Attendees at the 2025 PDCA Northeast Chapter Professional Development Course began arriving in the assembly room in the offices of George Harms Construction at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, March 5th, where the host organization provided a buffet of bagels, fruit and drinks before the day's programs began.
Host company GHC provided a parking attendant to assist the visitors. Once parked, attendees met PDCA Northeast Chapter officers who staffed the registration desk and provided them name tags.
Following the morning session of presentations on portions of the case study, attendees broke for a lunch buffet, courtesy of GHC. It was also an opportunity for people to catch up on their individual business and connect with industry friends and counterparts.
For those seeking educational credit for attending the program, a total of 6 professional development hours (PDH) were awarded to each individual who completed the Course.
The PDCA Northeast Chapter thanks the attendees of the 2025 educational event, as well as George Harms Construction Company for hosting the full day affair.
Host company GHC provided a parking attendant to assist the visitors. Once parked, attendees met PDCA Northeast Chapter officers who staffed the registration desk and provided them name tags.
Following the morning session of presentations on portions of the case study, attendees broke for a lunch buffet, courtesy of GHC. It was also an opportunity for people to catch up on their individual business and connect with industry friends and counterparts.
For those seeking educational credit for attending the program, a total of 6 professional development hours (PDH) were awarded to each individual who completed the Course.
The PDCA Northeast Chapter thanks the attendees of the 2025 educational event, as well as George Harms Construction Company for hosting the full day affair.
