WHB has a long history of successfully executing projects for local power utility company, San Diego Gas and Electric. For close to ten years, WHB has completed a wide variety of SDG&E projects related to critical infrastructure such as electric substations transmission structures and distribution structures. Services that WHB typically provides includes but is not limited to the following:

Construction management, civil engineering design, structural engineering design, and site development design.

Services: Construction Management, Project and Program Managememt

WHB Engineers has extensive experience providing Construction Engineering Support.  We routinely are engaged by local agencies to assist in value engineering, bid support, construction submittals, construction staking, contract administration, construction claims and disputes, and project closeouts. 

One example occurred at the 18 acre subdivision in Los Altos Hills, CA.  We worked closely with the developer to assist with contractor selection and contract preparation.  We managed coordination between the Owner, Contractor, and local agency stakeholders (including environmental agencies when a sensitive bird habitat was discovered on site at the onset of construction). 

Prior to construction, WHB reviewed the Contractor’s submittals and shop drawings for conformance with the plans and specifications.  The site and design constraints were incredibly unique and required a custom storm drain hydromodification structure, bioretention facilities, and an equestrian bridge.  These items required detailed shop drawing review.

During construction, we provided field inspection and prepared minor design changes as needed.  We reviewed and responded to Request for Information and assisted the Owner with responses to Contractor’s change orders. 

WHB maintained communications between the Owner, Contractor and Town staff during the two and a half years of construction and represented the Owner at many local agency meetings when the Owner was abroad.  Our responsibilities also included assistance with Tentative Map extensions, Final Map approval, and review of payment requests.

WHB was asked to provide construction management oversight. The project included a total of four phases: Abatement/Demolition of Existing Buildings, Site Work and Utilities, Main Building Construction, and Abatement/Demolition of Abandoned Biology and Physical Sciences Buildings.

From pre-construction through project closeout, WHB Engineers provided comprehensive project and construction management services. Our Senior Project Manager worked closely with the District in developing proposal packages to assist with the selection of the architectural firm (Smith Group) and the General Contractor (BHM Construction).

Our team prepared a budget estimate for hard and soft costs; a master project schedule that included all four phases of the project; prepared and managed the constructability review process; and prepared the front-end construction Division O and 1 documents.

The team used the District’s BMET project accounting system, EADOC for the web-based construction management of RFIs, submittals, memos, and other project documents. PlanGrid was used to track changes during construction and BIM was successfully used during design and construction to minimize change orders during construction. The project is net zero ready.

Some specific areas of focus in the construction of this facility that required added expertise and coordination efforts by the WHB team included the installation of laboratory gas and vacuum systems, emergency generator, chemical fume hoods, biological safety cabinets and the reverse osmosis/deionized water recirculation systems.

We take great enjoyment with working with private developers to guide and advocate for them during the subdivision map recordation process.  Several of our upper staff members are former public servants who have great understanding of the Subdivision Map Act and public sector’s nuanced requirements for entitlement approval.

Natoma Oaks is a tract of high end homes set above Matadero Creek.  WHB worked exhaustively with the developer and the Town throughout the map approval process.  The site featured a myriad of constraints including groves of heritage oaks, a protected creek bed, wildlife habitats, two dormant landslides, a deep colluvium deposit, and a hillside with slopes exceeding 100%.

The team performed design and construction management of the subdivision improvements.  WHB’s design is keenly considerate of the extremely sensitive site and features landslide and colluvium deposit stabilization measures along with stormwater hydromodification and bioretention facilities engineered to protect the creek for generations to come.  This project was the first project within the town to include bioretention.

WHB Engineers was selected to provide full construction management and inspection services for the City of Escondido’s $5,587,420 Gravity Sewer/Brine disposal pipeline.

The 15-inch diameter-PVC and 16-inch HDPE pipeline, will convey Brine produced from the Recycled Member Plant to a connection upstream of the City’s HARRF treatment facility. The project will construct 12,200 lineal feet (2.3 miles) of pipeline using a combination of open trench and trenchless construction including jack and bore and microtunneling. 

WHB Engineers is overseeing the projects State Water Resources Board, State Revolving Fund Loan construction requirements and environmental mitigation measures. WHB Engineers is also overseeing and enforcing the compliance with all permits, including the Caltrans Encroachment Permit and the NCTD Right of-Entry Permit. 

WHB Engineers is proactively addressing many construction challenges with the contractor CCL Contracting including four trenchless tunnel sections along the alignment. The alignment begins at the Harmony Grove crossing of the Escondido Creek channel, and continues east to the intersection of Broadway and Woodward generally following along the Escondido Creek and includes: 

• A 180 foot jack and bore section under Auto Parkway near the Kia Dealership and Auto Park Wash. 
• 340-foot trenchless tunnel through the Civic Center Plaza Shopping Center parking lot. 
• Micro-Tunnel section under the North County Transit District (NCTD) railroad tracks. 
• 100 foot jack and bore section under Center City Parkway. 
• Open Trench across Escondido Creek Near the NCTD facility.  
    

The alignment will be open trenched requiring dewatering across the Escondido Creek with siphons on either end. Pipeline will cross the Reidy Creek channel using open cut methods, and backfilled with CLSM. Siphons will be installed on either side of the creek crossing. 

Services Provided: Civil, Construction Management, Concrete Inspections, Labor Compliance, Change Order Management, Subcontractor Management, Payment Applications, Observations and Oversite 

Description: The FY 23-24 Concrete Improvements Project addresses the need for concrete repairs needed in more than 50 locations throughout the City of Pacifica.  This project enables the City to achieve compliance with modern ADA requirements (truncated domes and handicapped ramps) throughout the city footprint while also making necessary repairs to degraded concrete areas through the city.  This work was conducted in parallel with a city-wide asphalt overlay project occurring as the concrete work on this project was completed.  This required extensive coordination between contractors, City agencies, and affected residents.  Work is scheduled to be completed in August, 2023.

The City of The ESA secondary connection project was the largest capital improvement investment in Padre Dam history, increasing water supply, ensuring water reliability in
cases of natural disaster, and reducing reliance on imported water for 30,0000 residents living in the District’s ESA.

WHB Engineers provided construction management and inspection services for this complex potable water infrastructure project.

This project included a potable water pump station capable of supplying 9 million gallons of potable water to the District’s Eastern Service Area and assisted the District in achieving its strategic goals by increasing water supply and ensuring greater water reliability. The project scope included the construction of the following primary facilities:

Value: >$50M

Description: WHB Engineerswas awarded a 5-year construction management as-needed services contract with the San Diego County Water Authority that started July 24, 2014 and was scheduled to end on June 30, 2019.  Fifteen separate task orders have been executed under this contract, totaling approximately $2.75M, and the contract was extended until June 2023 to provide document control services on the Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project and resident engineering services for the Mission Trails Flow Regulatory Structure and Flow Control Facility Project.  

WHB Engineers primary scope of services was to provide resident engineering and shutdown inspection services as well as constructability review and cost estimating services.  Other services included as-needed construction inspection, nondestructive examination of welds, materials testing, soils testing, geotechnical engineering services, construction administrator services, and administrative support services for various Water Authority projects. 

Below are samples of the projects completed by WHB Engineers under this as-needed contract. 

Nob Hill Improvement Project – Resident Engineer and Shutdown Inspection Services.  

A tunneled and trenched pipeline in Scripps Ranch. Major elements included installing approximately 822 feet of 96-inch welded steel pipe within a drill and blast tunnel, excavation of portal reaches, connecting to the existing 69-inch welded steel liner at the north and south ends of Pipeline 3, and 1,500 lineal feet of permanent access road.  Construction also included approximately 1,500 lineal feet of permanent access road from Scripps Lake Drive. 

Construction value: $10M.

Pipeline 3 Relining Lake Murray to Sweetwater Reservoir Project – Resident Engineer Services and Welding Inspection

Rehabilitation of approximately 22,800 feet of 66-inch and 69-inch diameter pipe extending its service life by 75 years.  Construction crews accessed the pipe by excavating, establishing, and entering the pipeline through access portals.  Pipeline access structures were also rehabilitated as part of the project.  Much of the construction work associated with the project was located within public streets right-of-way, where the existing pipeline is located. Lane closures occurred in roadways along portions of the alignment during construction. For nighttime work, large wooden sound walls were temporarily installed to ease noise impacts to residents.  

Construction value: $28.5M.

WHB Engineers served as lead sub-consultant to various prime consultants providing construction management and inspection services to the City of San Diego Public Works Field Division, supporting City staff on a variety of capital improvement projects. 

WHB’s Resident Engineers and inspectors interfaced as the main point of contact with the contactor, representing the City’s Field Division in coordination with various city departments, governmental agencies, and the community. 

WHB Engineers successfully completed over 10 tasks over the course of the contract. The following summary provides examples of representative projects:

Alvarado Trunk Sewer Phase II – Resident Engineering and Inspection

The WHB Engineers team provided full resident engineering/inspection services for the critical installation of approximately 500 linear feet (LF) of 48- to 72-inch steel casing by means of tunneling for a sewer installation located in an easement at San Diego State University (SDSU). Construction included installation of 1,290 LF of 15-inch diameter pipe using open trench pipe methods.

The project location posed unique challenges, as this easement paralleled an intensively used roadway and foot path entrance to campus, used by SDSU students and faculty.  Existing sewer facilities located within the environmentally sensitive Alvarado Canyon and Alvarado Creek areas were removed from service and habitat was restored to natural conditions.  Pipeline realignment provided improved maintenance access and reduced the need for entry into the sensitive canyon area.

The WHB Engineers team coordinated closely with the City, SDSU, and nearby businesses to ensure the project posed minimal impact to these stakeholders.  Key project milestones were scheduled to minimize impacts relative to the school calendar and major events at the campus.  Night work was required while school was in session.  The project was completed with no claims and to the satisfaction of CB and SDSU.

Water and Wastewater Facilities – Electrical, Instrumentation and Controls Inspection and Start-up Assistance

WHB Engineers skilled electrical and I&C team assisted Field Division and Operations staff in trouble shooting and start-up assistance of major water and wastewater facilities. 

WHB Engineers tasks included electrical testing, functional tests, start-up assistance, attending weekly meetings and representing the city at start-up meetings, and coordinating work with construction contractors.  Electrical installations were inspected for conformance to the contract drawings, industry standards, and applicable codes.  WHB Engineers prepared the final punchlist for electrical, instrumentation and controls.  

South Bay Water Reclamation Plant Demineralization

WHB Engineers successfully provided electrical and I&C inspection and start-up support for The South Bay Water Reclamation Plant Demineralization project. This Design-Build project involved the full installation of two electrodialysis reversal (EDR) trailer units relocated from the North City Water Reclamation Plant to establish a new demineralization facility at SBWRP, including a new clean-in-place system, new chemical feed systems, and integration into the existing control system at the plant.

The Mayfield booster pump station (BPS) was originally constructed in 1970 and had reached the extent of its expected service life. California American Water (CAW) had decided to replace the BPS with a modern premanufactured below-ground pump station that would alleviate several of the issues that were identified in the BPS condition assessment. The new BPS provides for more efficient operation with variable frequency drive (VFD) domestic water pumps; additional fire flow capacity to meet county requirements; emergency generator; ventilation; sound attenuation; and greater accessibility for maintenance. 

WHB Engineers provided preliminary engineering services that included hydraulic analysis of the closed-loop service area using the Water CAD model and projected demands; surveying, geotechnical investigation; and development of a Basis of Design Memorandum that identified several options and associated cost estimates. Close coordination with premanufactured vendors, USEMCO and EFI, resulted in a preferred installation with little impact to the surrounding residential area.   

Both premanufactured vendors were solicited for bids based on performance specifications and preliminary engineering drawings. WHB Engineers provided bid support review and recommendations for purchase by CAW. In the Final design phase, WHB Engineers provided construction documents for the civil, structural, electrical, and traffic control improvements to support the installation of the BPS. Construction support services included attendance at meetings, response to requests for information (RFI), and submittal review. 

One of the major challenges in the project were the existing site constraints. The original BPS had been located within a small 12ft x 15ft easement between two residential properties on a steep slope with relatively shallow rock bed. In 1991 and 1995 electrical improvements were made to the BPS that extended beyond the easement property lines. The new BPS required a greater area to support the additional pumps, emergency generator, and greater accessibility for maintenance.

During preliminary design an alternative was developed to relocate the pump station to the adjacent street and allowing for the existing easement to be used for the new emergency generator. The alternative design minimized impact to the existing residents by not requiring additional easement acquisition and still allowed for the installation of the new larger BPS within the street right-of-way (ROW) with all the CAW desired features.