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pressing need for improved transportation options between the two districts . Currently , commuters traveling on US Highway 17 between West Ashley and Downtown Charleston must cross the Ashley River on two parallel bridges with narrow sidewalks . More than 63,000 cars cross these shared-use bridges daily and the high traffic volume resulted in more than 100 bike and pedestrian-related crashes between 2014 and 2019 .
Construction Today had the opportunity to sit with Richard Kirkman , Superior
Construction ’ s Division Manager for the Carolinas Region , to find out what it takes to build these impressive structures , and how the industry is managing against economic struggles .
First , the conversation begins with a look at his own career journey , and how he came to be part of Superior Construction ’ s leadership team . “ I was a civil engineering student at the University of North Carolina in 1989 . In 1990 , I decided , on the encouragement of one of my professors , to enroll in the co-operative education program , which allows students to seek part-time employment with a local engineering or construction firm . This provides students with real-world work experience in their chosen field , while giving the company an opportunity to get to know the student and help guide them on their career path . So , I interviewed for a position at a materials testing company – S & ME – and worked over there for a semester . Unfortunately , the following semester , they ran into financial difficulties , so the students were let go . I was subsequently hired by Blythe Construction as a co-op student , and was assigned to a high-profile water supply dam project in Concord , NC . I worked closely with both the design engineer and construction management staff , producing shop drawings and construction schematics when the engineer suggested a field modification to the original design . I would put his ideas onto paper , then work with the crews to survey and install the modifications . I really enjoyed that work .”
Following this milestone , Richard then went to work for Dane Construction . “ The owner of Dane is from Manchester , England . He came to America to work for a different heavy-highway firm in Charlotte before starting his own construction company , specializing in bridge construction . He ’ s still in business and doing well . I worked for him for close to seven years . I learned a lot from
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