FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 17, 2012
Contact: Darrel Berry, Marketing Communications Manager
Hanson Professional Services Inc.
(217) 747-9291
dberry@hanson-inc.com
Hanson distributes children’s books to local schools
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — To celebrate National Engineers Week Feb. 19-25, Hanson Professional Services Inc. is donating copies of a children’s book highlighting one of its award-winning projects to local public and private schools. Hanson civil engineer Judy Dittmer, P.E., wrote “Gong Gong and the P&L Railroad” to share her engineering adventures working on the Paducah and Louisville Railroad relocation design and construction project in Grand Rivers, Ky., with her then 4-year-old grandson. Together, Dittmer and Hanson are using this book to teach future generations about engineering, projects and careers.
“In this book, Judy takes a complex project and describes it in a simple, easy-to-understand way. If just one child or young person reads this book, and it sparks his or her interest in engineering, the book is a success. We believe it has the potential to influence a new generation of engineers,” says Sergio “Satch” Pecori, P.E., ExecEng, Hanson’s president and CEO.
This book chronicles Dittmer’s and Hanson’s work on the $94 million P&L Railroad relocation project, which is part of the $713 million Kentucky Lock expansion. Hanson served as the prime engineering consultant to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District. Hanson guided the design of a 3,100-foot-long railroad bridge that crosses the Tennessee River. The project team developed several innovative engineering design solutions, including incorporating float-in construction for the 500-foot main span and sustainable design elements.
Hanson has received various awards for its work on the P&L project, including a 2011 National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies, an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, and a Best of 2010 in Engineering Design award from McGraw Hill’s South Central Construction magazine.
Hanson is a national, employee-owned consulting firm providing engineering, architecture, planning and allied services. The firm’s corporate headquarters is located at 1525 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62703. The office may be reached by phone: (217) 788-2450 or fax: (217) 788-2503.
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