Thursday, March 29, 2012

ACEC California Honor Award Winner: Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. for BNSF Railroad Underpass at G Street


This $18 million project had a “finished” look earlier than expected when the paving schedule was moved up to October to beat the early winter storm that dumped an inch of rain on the city.

Biggs Cardosa was contracted by the City of Merced as the prime consultant to design the City’s first grade separation at the intersection of Burlington

Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) line and G Street. In an innovative design-build relationship, Biggs Cardosa designed an underpass to BNSF standards so that BNSF could serve as contractor, avoiding the need to build a shoofly for the duration of construction and thereby saving millions of dollars and shortening the project’s length by six months. The project was delivered on time and within budget