I-269 Coldwater River Bridge Forensic Review and Litigation

In 2013, the Mississippi Department of Transportation authorized a project to extend I-269 in Marshall County, with a hybrid scope of design-bid-build and design-build elements. The most notable portion of the design-build contract involved the bridge to cross the Coldwater River, which was specified with a 4,000+ FT alignment. The selected design team conducted detailed geotechnical studies of the alignment and found highly variable soil conditions that had not been fully identified in the RFP information. These variable conditions were not factored into the development of the final design before being issued for construction. During project execution, the contractor experienced some difficulties with installation of the pile foundations.

After the project’s completion, the design-builder filed suit against the design team, alleging errors and omissions in the proposal design and the issued for construction design of the bridge. According to the suit, these alleged flaws caused monetary and schedule delays, and the plaintiff specifically cited the design of the pile foundation systems and selected concrete mix designs.

Walter P Moore was retained by the legal team on behalf of a member of the design team to analyze the allegations and evaluate the Engineer of Record’s standard of care. Walter P Moore’s subject matter experts provided expert reports and deposition testimony in the matter, which was settled during mediation prior to arbitration.