Tidewater Construction CEO To Discuss $72.7 Million Bridge Expansion

10-16-97
University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers will sponsor a talk by Edwin McLaughlin, CEO of Tidewater Construction Company, on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Applied Research Laboratory Auditorium on the University Park campus.

As president and CEO of Tidewater Construction Corporation (TCC) in Virginia Beach, Penn State engineering alumnus Edwin McLaughlin oversaw the May 1996 expansion of the $72.7 million George P. Coleman Bridge in Yorktown, Va. Speedy work on this project was crucial: not only was the shortest detour around the closed bridge 75 miles, but the state department of transportation also imposed an $8,000-per-hour penalty for exceeding a 24-day maximum closure.

In addition, construction efforts had to avoid disturbing peregrine falcons nesting nearby as well as Lord Cornwallis' Revolutionary War fleet, scuttled beneath the bridge. TCC created an innovative solution to all these constraints, constructing the bridge 34 miles downstream and floating its six spans into place atop barges. Under McLaughlin's direction, the expanded bridge was ready for traffic after only nine days of closure, allowing TCC to garner a substantial $4,000-per-hour early-completion bonus.

Partial funding for this event has been provided by the Student Activity Fee. For more information, contact Martha Gross at meg141@psu.edu.

**meg**

Contact: Martha Gross (814) 863-8701 (office) (814) 862-7408 (home)