As a subconsultant, SI Engineering, P.C. (SIE) provided constructability review services for this project under the Ashokan Reservoir Program, which aims to add an additional 100 years of reliable service to the Ashokan Reservoir. This project involved the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and improvement of Ashokan Headworks. The purpose of the Headworks is to convey water from the Ashokan Reservoir into the Catskill Aqueduct. The structures that make up the Headworks are the Upper Gate Chamber, Lower Gate Chamber, Screen Chamber, Upper and Lower Special Aqueducts, Upper and Lower Pressure Aqueducts, and the Release Channel. The construction phase of the project was conducted under two phases. In this phase, the scope of work included replacement and upgrade of the Headwork’s mechanical components, such as sluice gates, valves, gate valves, stop disks, traveling screens, and their accompanying electrical services. In addition, a new community release beginning in the Lower Gate Chamber and terminating at the Release Channel was constructed to convey flows up to 20mgd, as well as structural repairs for the Upper Pressure Header and Release Channel. The project included water quality rooms in each of the chambers.
SIE provided constructability review services, which included reviewing constructability and biddability packages and providing comments / recommendations for the Design Team to address; confirming that all specified equipment, drawings, and project materials were compliant with the latest federal, state, and local codes and regulations, with emphasis on USEPA Regulations, OSHA Regulations, and DEP Standards and Policies; evaluating potential alternative designs, materials of construction, or facility arrangements that offer an easier, faster, safer, and more affordable means of construction; and determining if there is sufficient content provided to effectively communicate engineering information, quality control requirements, performance periods, submittal requirements, and relationships between the work elements and phases. SIE also assisted in evaluating the design for potential problems that could cause increased project duration and cost while the project was being constructed. Additional tasks included compiling review comments from others into a master file and distributing to the team, as well as preparing meeting agenda, meeting minutes, and assisting in preparation of any technical reports or presentations.
