Kevin Fischer joined VHB two years ago from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to lead our Structures team in North Carolina. In this short time, he's recruited nine new team members to grow Structures and Bridge services across the region. He's also been involved in Long Bridge, the Crystal City to Reagan National Airport Multimodal Connection (CC2DCA), land development, and alternative delivery projects, while also continuing to partner with NCDOT and VDOT. In fact, after the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina this September, NCDOT reached out to Kevin and VHB about repairing 11 bridges with immediate needs.
If this reveals anything about Kevin it's that he's the type of colleague that enhances collaboration and productivity at VHB, encouraging the best outcome for projects, work environment, and relationships. We spoke with Kevin further to hear more about his new role as Mid-Atlantic Structures Director, what it means for clients, and how his knowledge from the owner's perspective can enhance collaboration and partnerships.
VHB: You've been actively involved with a diverse range of projects and clients across the Mid-Atlantic region since joining VHB two years ago. Now, stepping into the role of Regional Structures Director, can you elaborate on what this means for our clients and projects?
Kevin: In my 20 years with NCDOT, I developed a deep understanding of the challenges and concerns that owners face. Things like balancing so many needs with limited resources and keeping the public safe while priorities and conditions are constantly shifting. By approaching projects from the owner's point of view, I can better address these challenges and deliver solutions that align with their goals.
Since joining VHB, I've worked on a wide range of regional projects, partnering with state agencies, local governments, and private developers. This has given me a solid understanding of the regional landscape and valuable insight into infrastructure challenges. Take bridge preservation and rehabilitation, for example. Keeping these structures in good shape is key for extending their lifespan and saving significant costs, meaning we can address multiple problem areas without the need for complete replacements.
My experience with design and construction of bridge replacement, repair and rehabilitation methods allows me to bring in best practices and, in some situations, offer new approaches. As the Regional Structures Director, I hope to enhance the services we provide, deliver projects efficiently and effectively, and ultimately exceed our clients' expectations. With all these experiences and insights, stepping into this role felt like a natural next step.
VHB: Being on the consultant side for the past two years, what have been some of your biggest takeaways?
Kevin: These past two years as a consultant have been quite a ride—filled with both challenges and opportunities. Shifting from managing programs, budgets, and schedules at NCDOT to getting back into the detailed technical aspects of a project has been exciting. Plus, mentoring early and mid-career engineers is rewarding.
It's been helpful to gain insight into the different processes and methodologies of other agencies, such as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and District Department of Transportation (DDOT), and experience a new side to alternative delivery methods. It's a more fast-paced process as a consultant and has shown me the importance of early-stage collaboration and building strong networks while juggling competition and cooperation.
A few projects have been eye opening for me too. The Long Bridge and CC2DCA projects have both involved many different stakeholders and partners, so there's more problem solving around compliance, impacts, and regulations because they are all impacted differently. While only about 1,000 feet long, the CC2DCA multimodal connector crosses a railroad, highway, and an airport. My understanding of the full life cycle of a structures project—from concept to design to asset management—has been helpful in the project management process making certain each agency whether Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Arlington County, and DCA’s needs are met.
VHB: Given your extensive background with NCDOT and your involvement in various projects across the Mid-Atlantic region, how does this benefit the way you manage projects? Can you elaborate on the strategies and innovations you bring to the table?
Kevin: One unique aspect of working as an owner for so long is now understanding how a bridge or structures project transforms from a concept all the way through design and construction. Once the construction wraps up, I understand how asset management, like inspections, monitoring, maintenance schedules, and rehabilitation strategies, play into the life cycle of these structures, keeping them in good shape for the long haul.
This holistic perspective has helped us recently while helping NCDOT with 11 bridges that need repair after Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina in September. The process began with comprehensive site visits to assess the extent of the damage, and a plan of action for each bridge to determine if repair or replacement was required. With each bridge in a different state of repair, VHB brought depth of experience and solutions for rehabilitation that prioritize safety, cost effectiveness, and a prolonged service life, while also being conscious of the lifelines that these bridges provide.
Before Hurricane Helene, VHB was also working with NCDOT on two bridge replacement projects that ended up being washed out during the storm. We were able to expedite the design process to accelerate construction timelines. We initially thought we would have years to prepare plans and relocate utilities in preparation for these bridge replacements, but we developed plans in a matter of months to get these bridges replaced as soon as possible.
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn or by email to learn more about how VHB is addressing complex infrastructure challenges.
