Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology-NEWS

The scenic beauty of Parke and Vigo counties could someday be linked through a majestic 18.5-mile paved pedestrian/bicycle Covered Bridge Gateway Trail pathway designed by five Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology civil engineering students in a senior-year design project.

Proud Of Senior Project: Members of the Covered Bridge Gateway Trail design team stand along a similar pathway project near the Rose-Hulman campus. Senior civil engineering students that worked on the project include (from left) David Honan, Andrew Twarek, David Pirnia, Philip Griffith, Travis McKittrick and Faculty Adviser James McKinney.

The proposed rails-to-trails project would showcase several historic covered bridges; could become a popular attraction for the annual Parke County Covered Bridge Festival; fit into a system of "greenways" to promote healthy lifestyles; and assist with economic development of the region. It would begin at the Markle Mill Dam Park in North Terre Haute (Vigo County) and follow an abandoned railroad to the Pennsylvania Railroad Depot in downtown Rockville (Parke County).

The team of Philip Griffith, David Honan, Travis McKittrick David Pirnia and Andrew Twarek spent over 1,700 hours on the project. The students presented the proposal earlier this month to commissioners of both Vigo and Parke counties, and conducted interviews with local news media.

"The students' work on this project is exceptional. I'd expect this type of work from paid consultants, not senior-year college students," remarked Pat Martin, chief transportation planner for the West Central Indiana Economic Development District, who was the project's client. "Everyone has been impressed with this project. Nobody has said that 'It can't be done.' That's because of the thorough job that the students did. They covered all the bases."

Showing Off Project: Senior Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology civil engineering student Andrew Twarek showcases features of the Covered Bridge Gateway Trail project during a public unveiling to the local news media. The five-member design team had earlier made formal presentations to the commissioners of both Parke and Vigo counties.

The team's design included site development of the trailheads at each end of the project, as well as creating access points at Rosedale and Catlin. Two bridges were also designed: One timber covered bridge just south of Rockville and a railroad-style timber trestle north of Catlin. Recommendations were made for trail width, materials and intersection markings. The design is conceptual at this time, urges Martin. He now will begin seeking federal, state and local funding. The team estimated the project's cost at $3.27 million.

This was one of seven capstone design projects completed this school year by groups of senior civil engineering students. Each had an external client and a faculty adviser. Robert Houghtalen, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering, coordinates the project design course.

New Office & Studio Development: The design process, working drawings and models created by the student team will help a Terre Haute architectural firm develop a new office complex in a wooded ravine. The team's plan will serve as a model for the architectural firm to develop into an enterprise that utilizes multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, landscape architecture and project planning. Students
involved in the project included Darrin Lowe, Andrew Mullis, Eric Munchel and Scott Tourville.

Improving Greencastle City Park: Four students offered the City of Greencastle (Ind.) Parks & Recreation Department plans to improve two parks. The plans include construction of a stormwater wetland and rainwater retention system, a pathway which would lead visitors through waves of wildflowers, and ideas for seating, scenic overlooks and educational signage. The proposed project would cost $50,000 for
improvements at Big Walnut Sports Park and $133,000 at Rokicki Park. Presenting their plans at a recent Greencastle Park Board meeting were Lance Gassert, Andrea Mailloux, Aaron Roberts and Carrie Wiley.

Park Hazard Classification: A team formulated a hazard classification and remediation plan for Hawthorn Park, located within walking distance of the Rose-Hulman campus. The Vigo County Park and Recreation Department also requested a pedestrian trail design to link the existing National Road Heritage Trail to a shelter within the park. Andrew Bolyard, Daniel Conley, Eric Diehl and Jonathan Keim mapped the site, conducted a hydrological study and breach analysis, designed an emergency action plan, and examined the subgrade for the trail.

Industrial-Commercial Site Redevelopment: An action plan was created to redevelop a former high-carbon coke production facility in Terre Haute to become the site of an industrial park for light industrial/commercial use. The project included review of existing environmental testing results, construction of a GIS map to depict pollution hotspots, development of an environmental remediation plan, recommendation of appropriate best management practices, and a general building envelope. Team members were Elisha Dodd, Ty Gremaux, Laura Hemming and Cory Howell.

Training Tower & Pump Pit: A two-story building/tower and reinforced concrete vault pump pit were designed -- on the same site -- to assist Greencastle's Fire Department in firefighting training and testing of fire truck equipment. Key tasks included site layout, planning for roads and utilities, a client needs assessment, and structural and foundation design. The design team included Jason Lange, Jeffery Poole, Todd Wallace and Michelle Woodward.

New City Park Pavilion: A new Larrison Pavilion has been designed for the City of Terre Haute's Deming Park, replacing one of the park's largest and most popular shelters. The new pavilion will have the capacity to serve 250 people. The project included site design, structural design and foundation design. The student team included Martin Brenny, Jonathan Hawkins, Shawn Smith and Michael Thompson. A
local architect provided assistance during the conceptual phase.

Professors joining Houghtalen and McKinney in serving as mentors for the projects were James Hanson, Michael Robinson, Kevin Sutterer and Martin Thomas.