2026 ACEC-NH & NHDOT Technical Exchange Conference

Session 10A: ConnDOT Interchange
Speaker: Kimberly Lesay, HNTB; David Schweitzer, HNTB
- The Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) process guided the evaluation of the I 84/Route 8 “Mixmaster” Interchange in Waterbury, addressing aging structures and outdated geometry. Attendees will learn how the team used PEL to identify community needs, develop multimodal solutions, and screen alternatives for advancement into NEPA. The session highlights effective collaboration between planners and engineers and demonstrates how PEL can be utilized to position complex projects for streamlined NEPA progression while also identifying early independent project opportunities.

Session 10B: I-277 Exit 3A North Carolina (Video Game)
Speakers: Smith Siromaskul, HDR
- Have you ever had traffic be so bad that it became a video game?  This is the story of one such location, the background on how it came to be, and how the announcement of a video game led to an effort to implement more cost-effective relief instead of waiting for a much higher cost corridor project.  The video game is focused on that 200-meter-long multilane weave and the resulting chaos that ensues.  News of the impeding video game triggered renewed emphasis on finding a solution that could be funded and built quickly.