Dewberry’s Richmond-based site/civil engineering group designed a new 35kV underground ductbank system for the University of Virginia in support of the university’s need to minimize weather-related power outages across the campus, which includes a hospital and research and educational facilities. Since the installation, university officials and Dominion Energy report that they have realized a nearly 90-percent reduction in power outages.

Associate Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer for the University of Virginia Don Sundgren stated, “We established a strong partnership with Dominion to approach the issues and established a solution of putting in an underground service. We selected early on that we wanted Dewberry to be our partner with this project as a design consultant.”

Additionally, the firm’s Fairfax-based transportation team provided design services for the I-64 Segment I widening project, alongside teaming partner Shirley Contracting Company, LLC. The five-mile roadway has been widened from four to six lanes, easing congestion along the heavily used interstate in Newport News.

“This team was innovative, cooperative and provided high-quality workmanship and I was grateful to have been a part of the effort,” said Janet Hedrick, PE, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Hampton Roads District Major Projects Senior Project Manager.