South Carolina Department of Transportation Selects Michael Baker International to Engineer and Manage Interstate 20 Highway Improvement Project

$8.8-Million Contract Expected to Reduce Rush-Hour Commute

Columbia, S.C. (June 20, 2016) - Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, will drive a major highway reconstruction project poised to impact the daily commutes of thousands of Columbia, S.C., residents. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) recently awarded the company an $8.8-million contract to provide construction engineering and inspection services for an 11-mile section of Interstate 20 (I-20) in Lexington County.
 
“This particular stretch of I-20 is a main artery into and out of Columbia, and many of us working on the project use it to get into and out of the city on a daily basis. We’re very familiar with the roadway’s challenges and welcome the opportunity to make it safer and more efficient,” said John Walsh, office executive for Michael Baker’s South Carolina operations. “With our full continuum of innovative solutions, Michael Baker is ready to help SCDOT protect the public’s investment in this roadway while also ensuring the safety of the traveling public and the workers charged with making repairs.”
 
Ultimately, when the project is completed, the stretch of I-20 will be expanded from four to six lanes in each direction. The new section of highway will better accommodate traffic patterns flowing into the city and potentially reduce the daily rush hour commute by nearly 50 percent.
 
Michael Baker’s Construction Engineering & Inspection team, led by project engineer Tim Sewell, will oversee contract management, inspection and testing services, and verification surveys. Given the roadway’s significance to local commuters, Michael Baker will also assist SCDOT in keeping residents, local businesses and other key regional stakeholders informed of the roadway project’s progress and anticipated lane restrictions or delays, particularly during the construction phase to ensure minimal disruptions. This might include the establishment of a variety of channels, including signage and informational meetings with the public.
 
The design and engineering phase of the project is expected to begin in the summer of 2016. The roadway project is expected to be complete by the fall of 2018.
 
About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services, which include planning, architectural, environmental, construction, program management, and full life-cycle support services as well as information technology and communications services and solutions. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions in support of U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients.  Michael Baker International has more than 6,000 employees in more than 90 locations across the U.S. and internationally. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com.

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