WVU students’ recommendations lead to completion of six-figure Bridgeport public safety project

Members of the 2022 civil and environmental engineering Capstone team (left to right): Kara Cunningham, Ian Bird and Zach Houde at the West Philadelphia Avenue and Worthington Drive intersection where the City of Bridgeport recently completed construction on a six-figure public safety project using some of the students’ design recommendations. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)

Elementary students, pedestrians and drivers of Bridgeport are safer than ever thanks to redesign recommendations from eight civil and environmental engineering students at West Virginia University’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

Story by Laney Eichelberger, Storyteller
Photos by Paige Nesbit, director of marketing and communications

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The City of Bridgeport recently completed a six-figure redesign of a problematic intersection following recommendations from a group of civil and environmental engineering students at WVU. The project not only enhances public safety but also provided a valuable opportunity for experiential learning and collaboration among students, alumni and faculty.

When CEE professor David Martinelli invited professional engineers and alumni John Hart and Eric Martz to serve as mentor practitioners for his 2022 CEE Capstone students, the project’s focus quickly became clear. Hart turned to fellow alum, former classmate and Bridgeport City Engineer Beth Fox for potential projects. Fox, a former student of Martinelli, had just the project in mind.

Narrow roads, slim sidewalks, crosswalks and traffic lines with low visibility, obstructing structures, and heavy traffic — according to Fox, these were some of the hazards that made the West Philadelphia Avenue and Worthington Drive intersection a safety concern. These issues posed risks to pedestrians, residents, emergency vehicles and students at the nearby Simpson Elementary School. Fox offered the task to the student team, and they quickly set to work.

Led by Kara Cunningham, the team included CEE students Ian Bird, Zach Houde, Hunter Plume, John Rabel, Tanner Scruggs, Jon Slezak and Nick Weaver. Some are now employed in their field, while others are continuing their graduate studies at WVU.

Capstone projects don’t always result in real-world applications, so students were determined to seize this unique task and provide high-quality recommendations for the City of Bridgeport.

“It was very meaningful that, not only did they have a real-world project to work on, but it included several different aspects that we could expose them to — highway engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, traffic engineering, accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists,” Martz said. “It had a lot of aspects where we could give them a well-rounded experience.”

With the City of Bridgeport as their client and the public as stakeholders, Martinelli noted the project’s increasing relevance to modern engineering careers. Due to the number of affected constituents, Cunningham said the stakes felt higher. Under the guidance of fellow Mountaineers and seasoned mentors, though, she said the Capstone served as a reminder to trust in the skills developed in their academic careers and seek direction when needed.

"By having that WVU connection, I think we got a little bit more grace from our mentors — not in a way that lowered the standards but from a place of understanding," Houde said. "They've been where we were, and they were helping us through stuff that doesn't really come up in school while giving us some real-world applications."

In November 2022, students stood before the Bridgeport City Council to present three redesign plans and field questions or recommendations. Houde noted this project milestone as a lesson in presenting engineering solutions to the public and engaging with stakeholders’ concerns — skills he later used during his thesis defense.

“To be able to take this kind of experience into the interview room or to put on your resume or to be able to step up in a project meeting early in your career with confidence — it’s a huge gain,” Martinelli stated.

Following a July 2024 bid, the Bridgeport engineering-architecture firm The Thrasher Group adapted the students’ recommendations and data to complete the intersection redesign. Though some modifications were made, Cunningham noted that many of the students’ proposed roadway, pavement, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements were implemented as planned.

Beyond redesign plans, Cunningham said the group’s research and presentation to the City Council served a great impact, raising awareness and providing clarity on the issue. A recent visit to the completed intersection served as a moment for Houde and herself to reflect on their motives for pursuing CEE and unique opportunities as students of the Statler College.

“It felt really great to go back and see it. It was cool to see, even as students who were not technically practicing engineers yet, that we were able to have an impact on the community,” Cunningham explained. “That is why I got into engineering with service.”

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