KS Engineers, P.C. (KSE) provided comprehensive surveying, mapping, hydrographic surveying, and structural documentation services in support of the design-build replacement of the Crum Creek Viaduct for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). KSE established a precise project control network by researching existing survey records, recovering National Geodetic Survey control monuments, expanding the geodetic control network, and establishing new primary control points referenced to the Pennsylvania State Plane Coordinate System (NAD83, Pennsylvania East Zone) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). Comprehensive topographic surveys were performed utilizing advanced terrestrial 3D laser scanning technology integrated with conventional total station surveying to accurately document existing site conditions while minimizing personnel exposure within active railroad operations. Survey services included mapping of access roads, staging areas, limits of disturbance, utility infrastructure, drainage systems, track centerlines, catenary structures, overhead wire elevations, and other critical transportation assets. Utility investigations reconciled field observations with available record information and documented pipe sizes, invert elevations, and underground infrastructure necessary for design coordination. KSE also performed detailed structural surveys of the existing viaduct, documenting bridge abutments, piers, foundations, fascia girder clearances, and other structural elements essential for design and construction planning. In addition, hydrographic and bathymetric surveys of Crum Creek extending approximately 500 feet upstream and downstream of the bridge were completed with careful consideration given to protecting environmentally sensitive areas, including the habitat of the Northern Red-bellied Turtle. All survey information was processed into high-accuracy geospatial datasets and incorporated into comprehensive AutoCAD Civil 3D mapping deliverables that supported engineering analysis, design development, constructability reviews, and multidisciplinary coordination. Through advanced surveying technologies, rigorous quality assurance procedures, and close collaboration with the design-build team, KSE delivered precise existing-condition information that reduced field time, improved design accuracy, enhanced safety, and accelerated project delivery.
The project involved the replacement of the Crum Creek Viaduct, a critical railroad structure carrying SEPTA Regional Rail service over Crum Creek in southeastern Pennsylvania. The design-build program required accurate documentation of an active rail corridor, complex bridge structure, utility infrastructure, and surrounding environmental features to facilitate the safe and efficient replacement of the aging viaduct while maintaining railroad operations. The combination of advanced laser scanning, conventional surveying, structural documentation, utility mapping, and bathymetric investigations provided the design team with a comprehensive understanding of existing conditions, enabling informed engineering decisions and reducing construction risk. KSE’s surveying services established the technical foundation for the successful planning, design, and execution of this significant transportation infrastructure improvement project while supporting operational continuity, environmental stewardship, and long-term reliability of the SEPTA rail network.
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