KS Engineers, P.C. (KSE) was retained by MTA Construction & Development to provide comprehensive engineering design and construction support services for the Coney Island Retaining Wall and St. Marks Bridge Replacement Design-Build project. KSE’s responsibilities included advancing the project from the 30% preliminary design through the 60%, 90%, and 100% final design stages, performing design reviews, preparing structural, civil, track, signal, and traction power design packages, coordinating permitting activities, developing Building Information Modeling (BIM), and providing construction-phase engineering support. During construction, KSE was responsible for reviewing shop and erection drawings, evaluating manufacturer submittals, maintaining shop drawing logs, interpreting design intent, resolving field issues, reviewing contractor-proposed modifications, preparing as-built documentation, and supporting quality assurance throughout project delivery.
The project involves the replacement of the aging St. Marks Bridge and rehabilitation of the adjacent Coney Island retaining wall within one of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s most active rail corridors. The improvements are designed to enhance structural reliability, improve long-term resiliency, reduce future maintenance requirements, and support uninterrupted rail operations while modernizing critical infrastructure serving the Coney Island rail complex.
KSE’s work began with a comprehensive evaluation of existing site conditions, including detailed reviews of geotechnical investigations, utility information, survey data, right-of-way documentation, and existing railroad infrastructure. This information established the technical foundation for development of coordinated engineering solutions that addressed the project’s structural, operational, and constructability requirements while minimizing impacts to ongoing transit operations.
As the design progressed, KSE developed increasingly detailed engineering packages that included structural, civil, signal, traction power, and track improvements. For the St. Marks Bridge, the design deliverables consisted of separate superstructure, substructure, and civil packages that facilitated efficient design coordination and phased construction. For the Coney Island retaining wall, dedicated steel and abutment packages, together with retaining wall design packages, provided the contractor with detailed construction documents that supported an accelerated Design-Build delivery schedule. Throughout the project, BIM technology was utilized to improve interdisciplinary coordination, identify potential conflicts, and enhance design accuracy before construction.
Following completion of the final design, KSE continued to provide engineering support throughout construction, working collaboratively with the Design-Builder, contractors, MTA Construction & Development, and New York City Transit. The firm’s timely review of shop drawings, responses to field conditions, and preparation of record drawings helped maintain project quality, minimize delays, and ensure that construction remained consistent with the approved design intent.
The project’s innovative Design-Build delivery, technical excellence, and successful modernization of critical transit infrastructure were recognized with the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey (ACEC NJ) Award for Engineering Excellence and the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC NY) Silver Award for Engineering Excellence.
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