Platte County, MO

Seven Bridges is a new residential development located on 1,350 acres west of the Kansas City International Airport.  It features more than 1,500 new homes and is the largest master planned community in Platte County.  SKW was selected to prepare the footing design and the structural design and detailing of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) headwalls for six of the seven bridges on site.  SKW's design allowed for vehicular and pedestrian access to the bridge and a pedestrian crossing that runs under the roadway beside the stream.  An important design goal was to create the appearance of an old-style stone bridge in a country setting: the headwalls used Versa-Lok Mosaic blocks which mimic natural limestone around the ends of the corrugated metal arch bridge structure to retain the soil overburden.  Pilasters were constructed on the face and top of the wall using these blocks to create reveals and shadow lines on the headwalls.

Following construction, SKW received the 2007 Award of Excellence in the Hardscapes category from the National Concrete Masonry Association for the design of the headwalls.  Recognized for outstanding use of concrete masonry products, SKW was proud to accept the award.