Mark Cattuna, PE and Dylan Livingston of our Mount Laurel office visited Rowan University to present at an ASCE and ASHE joint student chapter meeting. They discussed McCormick Taylor's method of evaluating the crash vulnerability of roadside utility poles for a utility pole safety evaluation project.
McCormick Taylor conducted the roadway safety evaluation as part of the client's design for a rebuild project of a nine-mile sub-transmission circuit, including the replacement of 257 existing wooden poles with larger self-supporting steel poles. The installation of steel poles, while providing greater protection from storm damage, presents additional roadside safety considerations. McCormick Taylor assisted in the design by ensuring the final rebuilt sub-transmission circuit would not increase, and preferably decrease, crash vulnerability at locations adjacent to roadways.
To accomplish this goal, McCormick Taylor first began by identifying the criteria and evaluating roadway safety risks, accident data, and crash vulnerability for utility poles placed along a roadway. Recommendations were then developed for each risk criteria to improve roadway safety and reduce crash vulnerability. Utilizing engineering judgement, McCormick Taylor coordinated with the client's design team for revisions to the rebuild project in order to improve roadway safety and reduce crash vulnerability.
