Transportation Market
Delve Underground provides responsive and comprehensive solutions to highway, freight rail, and mass transit/commuter rail clients. We have experts in transportation tunnel and station design, with disciplines to support transportation projects such as structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, and architecture.
Mass Transit / Commuter Rail
With a history dating back to the planning, design, and construction of prominent rail mass transit systems such as BART and WMATA in the 1960s to 1980s, Delve Underground has become an established leader in successfully managing complex projects in major urban centers.
Our comprehensive design services encompass conceptual, preliminary, and final design stages. We specialize in structural design and architectural management of stations, as well as the design of shafts, tunnels, and cross passages. Our expertise extends to ventilation and fire-life safety systems, settlement analysis, ground improvement, geotechnical investigation and instrumentation, building protection, tunnel boring specifications, station excavation support design, and waterproofing and dewatering. For preconstruction and construction phases, we provide scheduling, cost estimating, and the full array of construction management services.
Highways
Delve Underground’s experience covers all areas of tunneling required for highway projects, particularly large-span tunnels and caverns through a wide variety of ground conditions. Our extensive highway work includes design-bid-build and design-build (i.e., design+construct) projects. We have been a part of integrated engineering teams with owners and contractors, and understand the integration of spaceproofing, roadway design, mechanical/electrical design, and ventilation/fire-life safety. We’ve designed and provided construction management for highway tunnel projects across North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Freight Rail
Our freight portfolio encompasses projects ranging from mitigating small rockfalls and tunnel repairs to complex, double-track expansions and clearance improvements. Our extensive experience has established us as industry-recognized experts in critical areas such as tunnel clearance and repairs, rock and soil embankment stability, drainage systems, deep foundation solutions, stormwater control and retention, and retained cuts and fills.
We regularly assist our railroad clients in navigating the entire project lifecycle: from feasibility studies, design, environmental approval, and permitting, to successful construction. Our services have been sought after by Class I and II railroads, state departments of transportation, local municipalities, regional short-line carriers, and contractors. Notably, we excel at designing projects that can be executed within short work windows, optimizing efficiency and minimizing disruptions.
Pedestrian / Bike
Delve Underground has successfully completed the design of multiple pedestrian and bicycle tunnels and undercrossings, which reduce traffic pollution, promote healthy lifestyles, enhance safety, and encourage sustainability. These projects have been adjacent to and under railroads, highways, light rail facilities, and entire city blocks. We also have design and construction experience with the rehabilitation of older tunnels for conversion to nonmotorized use, such as “rails to trails” projects.
Contact
Andrew (Andy) Mencke is a principal engineer who has spent the past 20 years providing detailed design and project coordination leadership on major transit, water, and wastewater system expansions and upgrades.
Contact Andrew