Our Summer Spotlight series shines a light on the uniqueness of our Dawood team members. Diversity is key, as we all look to excel in a world of possibilities. Today, we speak with Chris McBryde, EIT, CBSI.
Chris joined Dawood’s Pennsylvania transportation team earlier this year in the greater Pittsburgh area as a senior highway designer and certified bridge safety inspector with more than 21 years of experience.
In his day-to-day, he works with project teams to develop and review roadway construction and highway occupancy plans. On the structural side, Chris inspects bridges throughout Washington County.
1. Your experience encompasses roads and bridges. What’s your perspective on turnkey transportation solutions?
In addition to designing highways and inspecting structures, I have a lot of expertise with ADA projects, an area where my Dawood colleagues excel— having performed more than 20,000 ADA Curb Ramp Design Reviews.
I also design busways and deliver transportation planning solutions for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
A PennDOT-certified bridge safety inspector (CBSI) and well-versed in National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS), I’ve delivered bridge inspection reports to Allegheny and Fayette Counties for 16 years.
All-in-all, I have a broad perspective on multimodal connectivity!
2. What has been your favorite project at Dawood?
Working with Brandon Peterson, PE, and Coterra Energy to develop Roadway Construction Plans for Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) and pipe replacements on nearly 20 miles of roadway in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, has been exciting. Dawood project team activities include roadway analysis, drainage improvements, roadway borings, and pavement design to prepare four state routes and nine local roads for construction. Read more here.
For the FDR and pipe replacement project, I update traffic data via PennDOT’s Traffic Information Repository (TIRe)- a traffic count data web app. My roles involve placing more than 25 Pennsylvania One Call System tickets using TIRe and coordinating with utility companies, developing roadway construction and traffic control plans, creating roadway and erosion and sedimentation details, quantifying roadway calculations, and reviewing special provisions.
A sustainable pavement recycling method, FDR reuses existing roadbed as the foundation for a new roadway surface. We plan to complete multiple plans according to PennDOT User Road Upgrade Plan guidelines as just one of many private and public partnership examples.
3. What would be the title of your autobiography?
“Balancing Family, Friends, and Work”
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’ll continue designing and coordinating multiple roadway construction projects, including traffic control and E&S plans, and would like to maintain and design all aspects of a roadway project.
I also plan to engage with additional team members on training and development opportunities here at Dawood. In that vein, I’ll maintain my certified bridge safety inspection certification and take additional bridge inspection courses.