Faces of I-270 North: Mike White

Two years ago, Mike White, a father of three, turned to the construction trade for stability. He has found his sense of pride as well. "I feel like I'm building America," he exclaimed. Mike was a MoDOT OJT Laborer Apprentice with Millstone Weber on the I-270 North Build-Design project. "I like working with my hands. I have worked several jobs that did offer an opportunity for advancement. Then I learned you could make a decent wage in construction," Mike said. He learned of the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program while in MoDOT's pre-apprenticeship program. Mike is now a fourth-term apprentice. When asked about his post OJT goals, "I'm looking forward to journeying out and having a pension," he said, "Plus it'll be a reward every time I pass by this I-270N project knowing I helped build it."

Faces of I-270 North: Kendall Davidson

In 2006, Kendall Davidson, a certified diesel mechanic, established a trucking company with a 1979 dump truck he literally built with his own hands. At the time, Kendall's Hauling had just one employee- himself. Despite the difficult road ahead, he wanted more, he said. Fortunately, he connected with industry influencers who were committed to creating sustainable pathways for minority and disadvantaged business owners. Thom Kuhn, the President of Millstone Weber, was among those who helped Davidson get established in the competitive, highly-regulated motor freight transportation sector. "Millstone Weber was my catalyst to success," Davidson said.

Today, Kendall's Hauling LLC has dual certification as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), a fleet of dump trucks, side dumps and fuel tankers, 15 employees, and a contract to collaborate with the men and women who helped the family-owned transportation business get rolling 14 years ago.

Faces of I-270 North: Jumoke Abass

Jumoke Abass refers to her on-the-job training as on-the-job learning — practical experience she will apply to passing intensive Civil Engineering competency exams and securing specialized certifications. She has already received her Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from SIU-Edwardsville. Now she is in MoDOT's OJT program as a Millstone Weber engineer (in training), working side-by-side with I-270 North Design's professional engineers as she works to become a licensed Professional Engineer.

Jumoke aims for her combined on-the-job learning and continuing education to make her a skilled civil engineer, capable of making sure projects get done according to plan, on time and within budget. She is committed to doing double duty — working full-time, while studying and testing on the side. "While learning on the job, I have to continue to set goals for myself to achieve. Being part of MoDOT's on-the-job training program is useful for the exams I want to take, and other personal milestones I need to obtain," Jumoke said.

Faces of I-270 North: Diamond Cottman

Diamond Cottman is the first on both her paternal and maternal sides of the family to choose engineering as a vocation. After speaking with her, it’s obvious why she chose to do this work.

As a senior at Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville studying Civil Engineering, Diamond says she was already being led toward engineering while a high school student. "I was exposed to the field of engineering in grade school and by the time I reached high school I knew what I wanted to do. I would always notice the condition of roads and bridges and I would think, 'this shouldn't look like that or that's wrong.' I try to fix things in my head," she said. 

That attention to detail is not the only reason that she chose to focus on Civil Engineering. "I have a very strong desire to rebuild communities and the first step in that direction for me is to focus on the roads, bridges and overall transportation systems contained within those communities. Eventually, I plan to impact other elements within communities like housing, that can affect overall social, physical and mental well-being."

Faces of I-270 North: Brandy Broeckling

Brandy Broeckling was the Project Manager for Millstone Weber, the contractor for the I-270 North Design-Build Project. Broeckling says the entire team is excited to be working on a project of this magnitude and they are looking forward to seeing some of the innovative solutions within the plans come to reality.

"We are really pleased to be a part of this project; the largest single project done by MoDOT within the past decade. Our plan is to use this newsletter as a way to allow you to stay connected to the project, and to learn about all of the innovative and impactful work that will happen along the corridor," said Broeckling. This is the first of monthly editions of the newsletter that will be shared with the public via emails and posting on both the Millstone Weber and MoDOT I-270 North team websites. Broeckling says MW and MoDOT want people to get excited and stay informed about the project as it progresses.

Faces of I-270 North: Shawn Leight

It's easy to see how a massive infrastructure effort like the I-270 North Project would be a dream endeavor for any transportation engineer, but for CBB Transportation + Engineers' Vice President Shawn Leight, it's much more than that.

Leight's career as a transportation engineer spans over 25 years, including nearly two decades at CBB where he also serves as one of its four principal owners. He has led the firm's efforts with the I-270 North Project, which have included everything from providing traffic analysis and modeling to traffic signals, overhead signage elements and many more of the vital traffic flow details that the average person may take for granted during a daily commute.

However, he's most proud of the work the firm's been able to do with engaging college students and teens in the process. Through the years, CBB has hosted a number of St. Louis University civil engineering students on field projects as a part of SLU's capstone course requirement for its college seniors.

Faces of I-270 North: Jason Highley

Jason Highley, Millstone Weber maintenance of traffic manager for the I-270 North Project, is responsible for all things traffic related. That includes, among other things, implementation of closures and detours, temporary signing, temporary and permanent striping, road maintenance and coordination between the project team and the surrounding communities to ensure that they are aware of project status and current activities. He works closely with the MoDOT team members.

Eighty percent of Highley's work involves facilitating what needs to happen, when it needs to happen and how it needs to happen. Outside of pre-planning and preparing for upcoming work, weather can be one of the most impactful influences on a project-critical decisions must be made on when to push forward with inclement weather on the horizon and when to delay the work. "We can have the best plans, and nature simply shows up and delays opportunities to move forward, impacting everyone involved including contractors, construction crews and of course travelers. Having plans sitting on 'GO' and being delayed by weather can have a snowball effect on other planned activities. In spite of that though, I am always amazed at the pace with which our crews maintain and complete the work."

Faces of I-270 North: Chris Watts

Chris Watts is the project's design manager for Parsons Corporation; a defense, intelligence, security and infrastructure engineering firm with offices in St. Louis. With a background in Civil Engineering and a desire to work in transportation design, his job is to oversee all design aspects of the project and work closely with the rest of the project team members to bring it to fruition.

Watts said the best approach, especially with a large project like I-270 North, was to design it in a sequence which matches how the contractor wants to construct the project.

Watts added that the planning challenges around the I-270 North Project also were compounded by the necessary separation of team members due to COVID-19. "Communication was key, and we really worked well through those initial challenges with online meetings, and frequent communication."

"Things are moving ahead well, and we will be very excited when we can show the community the finished project. We are looking forward to everyone experiencing the safety upgrades that are a large part of the project, as well as the additional pedestrian facility upgrades that have been included."