Safer Connections, Stronger Infrastructure for West Virginia Communities
Two very different infrastructure challenges in West Virginia share an important outcome: communities better prepared for the future.
Burgess & Niple has been recognized by ACEC West Virginia through its Engineering Excellence Awards for two projects that demonstrate the value of thoughtful, practical engineering. The Scott Miller Hill Bypass received recognition in the Transportation category, while the Virginia Street Force Main Improvements were honored in the Waste and Storm Water category.
Scott Miller Hill Bypass
For decades, a four-mile section of U.S. Route 33 between Peniel and Spencer, West Virginia challenged drivers with steep grades, sharp curves and a history of accidents. Working with the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways, B&N designed the Scott Miller Hill Bypass, a new four-mile alignment created to improve safety, connectivity and reliability along this important transportation corridor.
The $47.7 million project included truck climbing lanes, two bridges over the Middle Fork of Reedy Creek and five large precast box culverts. The team also incorporated natural channel design to restore streams and protect surrounding waterways. Completed ahead of schedule in August 2024, the new corridor provides safer travel, improves freight mobility and supports long-term economic opportunity in the region.
Virginia Street Force Main Improvements
In Charleston, the Virginia Street Force Main Improvements addressed a different kind of infrastructure need, one largely out of public view but essential to a large portion of the city’s east side.
The existing force main crossing runs beneath the Elk River and transports wastewater downstream to treatment facilities. After more than 60 years of service it had become a potential vulnerability within the wastewater system. To reduce risk and improve long-term reliability, the Charleston Sanitary Board initiated a replacement project to strengthen the system before a failure could occur.
B&N provided planning, engineering design, environmental coordination, permitting support and construction-phase services. Because the work had to take place in a constrained urban setting while the lift station remained operational, the team moved construction onto barges in the river. This approach reduced impacts on nearby businesses and traffic while allowing essential wastewater service to continue.
Together, the projects show how engineering excellence translates into tangible community outcomes. Whether creating a safer route through challenging terrain or strengthening infrastructure beneath a river, B&N’s work helps communities protect essential services, improve everyday travel and invest confidently in the future.