Project managers in any technical discipline bring a wide range of skills and abilities to the table. Those who work in civil engineering combine these capabilities with others unique to this niche within the engineering world. Needless to say, well-rounded individuals able to see a project from many different perspectives tend to thrive in this role.

So what makes an idea civil engineering project manager? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding the Triple Constraint is Vital for Any Project Manager

Most projects — civil engineering and otherwise — rely on something called the triple constraint, which describes the interrelationship between time, cost, and quality within said project. A common refrain regarding this constraint states “you can have any two of those three.” In short, if you want something done quickly and cheaply, the quality will suffer.

Civil engineering project managers must have the ability to successfully balance the three items on the proverbial triple constraint. This takes great technical and analytical skills combined with intuition as well as strong communication abilities, especially when a project is taking too long or goes over-budget. Navigating the triple constraint is why project managers are well-paid.

Financial Skills are a plus for the Civil Engineering Manager

Most civil engineering projects must be completed on time with superior quality. Thus, being able to understand the financial aspects of a project is vital, considering that a project completed quickly with no defects will usually stress that project’s budget. Understanding costs and finances is an important skill of the project manager.

Don’t forget Leadership and People Skills

A civil engineering project manager is also a leader with exemplary people skills. The ability to inspire other engineers and team members plays an important role in the success of any project. Ultimately, the best engineering project managers are great leaders who inspire their team members to a high level of performance.

If you are a civil engineer looking to move into a management role, talk to the experts at The Talley Group. As one of the top staffing agencies in Washington State, and a great source of Seattle civil engineering jobs, we can help your career immensely. Make it a point to meet with us today!

Design, safety and economics were the top three priorities when building the Hoover Dam Bypass. It is one of the great structural engineering marvels of the world, and rightfully so, after taking nearly a decade to complete. The project stretched across two states, Arizona and Nevada, and included a 1,900’ crossing of the Colorado River.

Six contracting agencies were brought in to design and construct the bypass. The Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration awarded the contract to engineering firm HDR for design and management services. HDR led the way for subcontractors and engineering partners.

The key piece of this project is the Mike O’Callaghan/Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, currently designated as the highest and longest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere, rising 890’ above the river.

The significance in the Hoover Dam Bypass is that its bridge is the first steel/concrete arch bridge constructed in the United States. The arch was created to compliment the landmark without ruining the beautiful tourist views of the Hoover Dam. The steel substructure allows for high intensity loads on the bypass. The two concrete arches are connected with steel struts, which provide a greater lateral strength in case of extreme winds or an earthquake. The bridge is also composed of trapezoidal steel box girders, integrated with post-tensioned concrete caps. These allow the roadway to serve as a lateral brace for the concrete columns, which are the highest in the world.

And of course, in the end, the final product looks beautiful, but the teams had to put up with some extreme challenges from Mother Nature. Rock had to be cut almost 100’ high, winds blew up to 70 miles per hour, and at times the temperature reached over 120 degrees.

One of the greatest outcomes of the project was the development of team building and partnerships between the engineers. Many had come from different backgrounds and skill levels, but all worked under the HDR umbrella to create the best possible product. The groups worked together to also grade and pave roadways, construct six other bridges, allow for wildlife crossings, drainage, lighting, utilities, traffic management systems, pedestrian accommodations, interpretive exhibits, high-voltage transmission line relocations, geotechnical engineering, surveying and mapping, and bypass corridor architectural design.

Contact The Talley Group for the top positions in civil engineering and work on life-impacting projects.