As a structural engineer and project manager for Hanson, Andy Nicol’s experience spans the planning, design and construction of roadway and railroad bridge projects for public and private clients. He is skilled at coordinating complex, phased rail bridge construction with stakeholders, reducing impacts to ongoing railroad operations and the traveling public. He prioritizes client communication, teamwork and responsiveness to stay aware of critical project elements while meeting budget demands. A broad base of Class I railroad knowledge helps Andy identify potential challenges and find innovative solutions.

Andy’s bridge design background ranges from standard bridge designs to curved rail flyover structures. His experience also includes seismic design, various styles of retaining walls, braced excavations, crash walls and culvert extensions and replacements. He has performed bridge inspections and load ratings for highway and railroad bridges, as well as construction observation on various projects.

Andy has been involved in more than 200 railroad-related bridge projects. He managed the design and construction of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) WA4 project that involved the BNSF Railway Co., Norfolk Southern, CSX, the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation and led multiple bridge designs on CREATE WA1. The Illinois Tollway relied on Andy to lead all railroad coordination for the $4 billion corridor that has 15 grade separations with Class I railroad carriers and Metra. He has also served as a liaison between the complex, stage constructed project corridor and the array of freight rail needs, including managing right of way, agreements, right of entries and utility impacts.

Andy has also made significant contributions to highway and bridge infrastructure, including the widening and reconstruction of a 22-mile section of Interstate 90 (the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway) in Boone, McHenry and Kane counties in Illinois. He was involved in the design of the Tanana River Bridge for the Alaska Railroad Corp.’s Northern Rail Extension in Salcha, Alaska, and the design of a flyover bridge for the CREATE program’s Beltway Corridor.

Andy is an active member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and the Western Railway Club. He has represented Hanson as an industry partner at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Rail Transportation and Engineering Center.

IN ANDY’S WORDS
“What inspires me most about my work at Hanson is the opportunity to engage in dynamic teamwork and communication with a talented group of professionals, emphasizing client satisfaction and proactive problem-solving to successfully manage intricate projects and achieve critical design milestones. Working across a spectrum of projects, I am driven by the challenge of navigating complex engineering environments and the chance to expand my knowledge through collaborative efforts. My involvement in significant projects, like the CREATE program, complex Illinois Tollway projects and large-scale Class I railroad bridge replacements allows me to apply my practical engineering skills but also reinforces my commitment to advancing sustainable and efficient transportation solutions for our communities.”