Matthew Cardamone, P.E. Civil Engineer & Construction Expert

Experienced in work zone traffic control, including lane closures, detours, pedestrian diversions in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as well as construction means and method, safety and estimating for roadway, bridges, wastewater treatment facilities, railways, and industrial buildings.

Professional Experience

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving highway and bridge construction practices, including maintenance and protection of traffic during construction/construction work zones in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, railway infrastructure projects, wastewater treatment facilities, commercial construction, construction engineering, construction safety, and claims and failure analysis in the construction industry.

Served as Senior Project Engineer for a multitude of projects including multi-million dollar railway stations, wastewater infrastructure, bridge construction, and highway reconstructions.

Pa Turnpike Toll Plaza Demolition Project ($25 million) (5/2025-1/2026)
Client: Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority
Performed as the Project Engineer for the general contractor with responsibilities that included:

• Directed coordination of submittals, requests for information, subcontractors, professional services, and purchase orders for removal of toll facilities at five interchanges and two slip ramps including roadway reconstruction and overhead sign structures, ensuring technical compliance with contract documents and continuity of construction operations.
• Managed procurement of materials for roadway concrete pavement including field assessment of required transverse load transfer units and longitudinal reinforcement based on Pennsylvania Turnpike and PennDOT standard drawings and specifications.
• Led toolbox talks and routine jobsite safety inspections, and developed visual work plans to help management and craft personnel anticipate and eliminate unsafe conditions for workers and the traveling public.
• Guided work plan development based on contract requirements and prior project experience for drilled caissons for new overhead sign structures.
• Developed site-specific work plans for demolition of toll plaza canopy, tolling gantries, removal and installation of overhead sign structures, establishing the operational framework, sequencing approach, and safety considerations for field execution.
• Developed work plan for the sealing of doorways and openings to place flowable backfill in the tunnels located below the toll booths.
• Performed shop drawings review and conformity checks for pre-fabricated buildings, verifying alignment with contract plans and facilitating design engineer approval along with inspection approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to conform with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
• Managed procurement of roadway drainage structures including precast concrete inlets and reinforced concrete pipe in accordance with contract requirements.
• Coordinated RFI-driven resolution of roadway drainage plan conflicts where existing details and proposed modifications did not conform to the new roadway profile
• Managed procurement and coordination for disposal and recycling of removed concrete roadway materials with local concrete recycling facilities.
• Oversaw utility coordination for interchanges and slip ramps, managing Pennsylvania One Call tickets and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Utility Management Application.
• Prepared and implemented all Concrete Quality Control Plans using PennDOT standard forms in accordance with contract specifications.
• Managed procurement of reinforcing steel for drilled shafts, foundations supporting prefabricated buildings, shallow foundations and pedestals for overhead sign structures.
• Managed procurement of cast-in-place and precast concrete barrier and reviewed shop drawings for conformance with standard drawings and specifications, subject to final approval by the design engineer.
• Served as Quality Control Manager for Maintenance and Protection of Traffic verifying field implementation of traffic control plans in accordance with the project requirements.
• Prepared CADD overlay drawings used by field supervision and subcontractors to evaluate sequencing of traffic switch operations and identify potential safety and quality risks prior to implementation.

Schuylkill River Trail Extension Project Christian to Crescent ($45 million) (7/2021-5/2025)
Client: City of Philadelphia
Performed as the Project Engineer for the general contractor with responsibilities that included:

• Directed coordination of submittals, RFIs, subcontractors, professional services, and purchase orders for a 2,812 foot pedestrian bridge including a 650-foot cable-stayed main span, ensuring technical compliance with contract documents and continuity of construction operations.
• Planned and evaluated complex lift operations for erection of south approach segments and precast concrete tub girders of the main span cable-stay bridge, addressing rigging configuration and crane layouts. The approaches included 48 prestressed concrete bulb tee beams. The main span included 8 EA precast concrete tub girders weighing up to 140 tons set using a 260-ton shear-leg barge crane and were transported 343 nautical miles via barge from upstate New York to the site in Philadelphia.
• Led regular toolbox talks and routine jobsite safety inspections, and developed visual work plans to help management and craft personnel anticipate and eliminate unsafe conditions for workers and the traveling public.
• Coordinated with erection engineer on erection sequencing, integrated shop drawings, and structural modeling for temporary towers, falsework, and superstructure geometry control.
• Oversaw the planning, submittals, and field implementation of temporary works construction including custom steel support towers and falsework totaling approximately 400,000 lbs. of structural steel, 5,000 feet of welding, and 2,300 high strength bolts, supporting the structure prior to permanent cable-stay support.
• Managed post-tensioning subcontractor for installation of 16 EA vertical 1-3/4 inch x 68-foot-6-inch bonded post-tensioning threadbar and approximately 5,000 ft. of horizontal post-tensioning continuity tendons of U-beams and diaphragms, ensuring constructability and adherence to stressing and sequencing operations. The work also included 6 EA 1-3/8-inch x 7-foot-9-inch bonded post-tensioning threadbar for the midspan hinge diaphragm.
• Oversaw implementation of the mass concrete thermal control plan for bridge footings and pylons, addressing temperature differentials, cracking risk, and specification compliance that included wireless concrete monitoring system, insulating blankets, and cooling tubes.
• Reviewed and coordinated with the formwork supplier on a custom fabricated steel formwork system for the 140 ft towers, and ensured the system met contract geometry requirements. The system included self-supporting working platforms that were removed and reset at each lift as the tower progressed upward.
• Developed 3D model concept for a sacrificial steel falsework system used to support and position cable anchor plate embeds within upper tower lifts in coordination with the erection engineer’s design.
• Coordinated with superintendents, formwork suppliers, and concrete pump truck subcontractors in developing work plans for structural formwork and concrete placement of tower caisson caps that included approximately 1,200 CY of concrete placed inside of a cofferdam.
• Developed 3D model layouts of complex structural concrete elements to facilitate coordination among the contractor, erection engineer, and subcontractors, allowing safety, access and constructability issues to be identified and addressed early through preconstruction planning.
• Managed installation and stressing operations for 56 EA 2-3/4-inch structural strand stay cables, geometry survey coordination submittals, and lift-off verifications.
• Project Awards
  • Associated Builders and Contractors Eastern Pa Excellence in Construction Award
  • The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania Grand Conceptor Award
  • Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) Special Award: Structural Innovation and Transportation Award: Bridge with a Main Span More Than 201 Feet
  • Post Tensioning Institute (PTI) Bridges Category: Award of Merit

Somerset Raritan Sewage Valley Authority Stormwater Treatment Facility ($28 million) (6/2019-7/2021)

• Led toolbox talks, conducted routing jobsite safety inspections, developed visual work plans to anticipate and eliminate unsafe conditions, and served on the company safety committee, meeting monthly to address safety issues, regulatory updates, and training needs.
• Directed coordination of submittals, requests for information, subcontractors, professional services, and purchase orders to ensure technical compliance with contract documents and continuity of construction operations.
• Evaluated and planned installation of percussion driven earth anchor system for support of excavation in overburden soils and rock anchors installed into bedrock, addressing soil testing requirements, drainage, sequencing, and field implementation considerations. The work included an area of excavation of approximately 10,200 square feet with a maximum depth of 43-foot-6-inches.
• Managed development and review of shop drawings for cast in place concrete formwork drawings which included 47,200 square feet of formwork for footings and walls, 2,000 square feet of supported slab formwork, 1,120 square feet of bulkhead, 2,840 feet of raised keyway and PVC dumbbell-type waterstop, and 3,720 cubic yards of cast in place concrete for the influent chamber, effluent chamber, UV channels, filter building, and clarifier.
• Managed development and review of shop drawings for miscellaneous metals including stairs, handrail, grating, diamond plate, pipe bollards, access hatches, and mechanical piping to resolve interferences and maintain constructability.
• Managed subcontractors for installation of concrete masonry units, metal roof trusses, standing seam metal roofing, hollow metal doors, overhead doors, skylights, aluminum windows, geodesic dome, activated carbon odor control equipment, dampproofing, painting, caulking, sidewalks, curbs, and parking areas associated with construction of new facility, ensuring conformance to contract documents and safe work practices.
• Planned and coordinated closely with superintendents on support of excavation operation utilizing a temporary shoring box system for utility tie-in work.

SEPTA Secane Train Station ($13 million) (9/2016-6/2019)

• Led toolbox talks and daily stretch-and-flex routines with jobsite personnel, performed routine jobsite safety inspections, developed visual work plans to anticipate and eliminate unsafe conditions, and served on the company safety committee, meeting monthly to address safety issues, regulatory updates, and training needs.
• Managed submittals, RFIs, professional services contracts, and purchase orders for structural and architectural work that included 1,157 CY of concrete with 513 LF of cast in place concrete ADA compliant ramps, 7 EA cast in place stair sets, 1,195 LF drilled shafts, as well as walls for the pre-fabricated building foundation.
• Reviewed reinforcing steel shop drawings, precast concrete pier caps, precast concrete stair, and precast concrete platforms for conformance with contract drawings and specifications.
• Developed site-specific work plans for erection of precast concrete pier caps, precast concrete platforms, and structural steel canopy framing. Due to minimal right of way, low overhead electric and communication lines, and restrictions on weekend outages it took a multitude of methodologies as well as detailed storage sequencing in order to set the 83 precast concrete panels. The erection methods included High-Rail Knuckle Boom Truck, use of rail carts to then transfer the platforms on Hillman Rollers on tracks supported by EFCO Super Stud that were then lowered with the use of hydraulic jacking system, as well as a Barnhart Hake 100 ton slide system supported by EFCO Super Studs, among others.
• Presented methodology at company meeting highlighting planning techniques used to meet owner constraints.
• Managed concrete repairs to the existing station and platform including type 1 concrete repairs and crack injection/grouting restoration.      

Kosciuszko Bridge Project Phase 1 (7/2014-8/2016)
Client: New York State Department of Transportation

• Led toolbox talks, conducted daily stretch-and-flex routines, participated in morning safety briefings with foreman prior to the start of work, ensured daily safety communication was relayed to all craft personnel, performed routine jobsite safety inspections, and developed visual work plans to anticipate and eliminate unsafe conditions for workers.
• Coordinated submittal and approval of concrete mix designs for a design-build project with the concrete supplier, service-life consultants, design engineer, and owner to confirm compliance with requirements for durability, corrosion protection, thermal control, and compressive strength requirements.
• Developed temperature and compressive strength monitoring method with use of Engius intelliRock system using maturity method calculations to ensure compliance with thermal control plan for mass concrete pours.
• Oversaw quality control, safety compliance, and cost tracking for installation of taper tube piles and construction of cast-in-place concrete footings, columns, and pier caps.
• Planned and sequenced critical lift operations for formwork systems and pre-assembled reinforcing steel for substructure and superstructure elements.
• Developed lift plans accounting for crane radii, site grades, rigging geometry and pick and carry requirements in accordance with manufacturer limitations.
• Contributed to early planning efforts for the demolition of the existing structure including bridge inspections with the demolition consulting engineer to evaluate a strand jack lowering system for the main span and approaches.

Estimating (6/2013-6/2014)

• Developed construction schemes and detailed cost estimates for multiple gas-fired power plants nationwide, including quantity takeoffs and analysis of historical production costs for structural steel, concrete, and equipment assembly and commissioning.
• Served on the estimate team for the Brooklyn Bridge Hazard Mitigation project, responsible for developing the work zone traffic control scheme and estimate based on contract requirements and MUTCD standards.
• Contributed to the estimate for the Kosciuszko Bridge Replacement, working with estimate leads and subcontractors to develop the demolition scheme and cost estimate for the 1.1 mile bridge along the Brookly-Queens Expressway. Performed quantity takeoffs for structural steel, steel grid deck, and concrete barrier using original 1938 construction drawings and 1967 rehabilitation plans.

Willis Avenue Bridge ($640 million) (2/2012-5/2013)
Client: New York City Department of Transportation

• Led toolbox talks, participated in morning safety briefings with foreman prior to the start of work, ensured daily safety communication was relayed to all craft personnel, and performed routine jobsite safety inspections, presenting findings to project management, including superintendent and foremen, to identify and eliminate unsafe conditions for workers and pedestrians.
• Implemented a confined-space ventilation and air-monitoring procedure for painting operations within tub and box girders, incorporating continuous airflow measurement, negative pressure ventilation, and monitoring permissible exposure levels to ensure worker safety and regulatory compliance. Prepared training materials for confined space and site specific hazards that all crew members were required to attend prior to working in the confined space.
• Inspected reinforcing steel for marine concrete fender systems to verify installation in accordance with approved shop drawings and contract requirements.
• Developed a method to quantify dredged soil volumes in barges using displacement principle (Archimedes’ principle) to support accurate quantity takeoff and payment verification.
• Tracked and documented daily production rates and associated costs for installation of fiberglass handrail on marine concrete fender systems.
• Developed work plan and job hazard analysis for installation of tide gauges and dry finishing of concrete fender system.
• Performed daily inspections of maintenance and protection of traffic to ensure compliance with contract documents. Verified protective barricades around sidewalk access hatches were properly in place to safeguard pedestrian traffic and maintain site compliance.

Estimating (1/2012-2/2012)

• Developed estimate for 91st Marine Transfer Station including gathering past labor production costs and evaluated supplier quotes for architectural package while performing good faith effort documentation for entire estimate.

Nesbit Dam Rehabilitation ($27 million)
Client: Pennsylvania American Water Company

• Performed quality control and tracking of materials required for installing steel H piles for a temporary shoring wall and deep foundation for a training wall.

Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project ($1.1 billion)
Client: WMATA

• Performed quality control and tracking of costs for drilling, inspection of rebar cages, and concrete placements that included 850 caissons with diameters ranging from 3-foot to 10-foot. Responsibilities included using a Mini-SID (Shaft Inspection Device) to verify base conditions, and coordinated with specialty subcontractors to conduct Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) testing for shaft integrity verification.

Roanoke Rapids Dam Rehabilitation ($4 million)
Client: Dominion Energy

• Performed quality control and tracking of costs for drilling of post-tensioned steel strand anchors including borehole alignment verification with azimuth and documenting and submitting proof and performance stressing operations for anchorage.

• Supported the Environmental Unit with wetland delineations, erosion and sediment control plans, and PNDI reporting.
• Performed construction inspection of roadway and bridge operations including daily activity oversight, pay quantity tracking, and testing of asphalt and concrete cylinders.

Professional Credentials

Registered Professional Engineer: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

Education

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Continuing Education

• Critical Path Method, ASCE, 2023
• Construction Vibrations, ASCE, 2023
• CM/GC Contracting in Transportation Infrastructure Programs, ASCE, 2023
• The Pricing of Delay Costs for Construction Projects, ASCE, 2023
• Design of Adhesive Anchors, ASCE, 2023
• Design of Wood Beams and Joists, ASCE, 2023
• Introduction to the Seismic Design of Nonbuilding Structures to ASCE 7-16, ASCE 2023
• Lateral Bracing of Flexural Members, ASCE, 2023
• Observation method for Scour – A New Tool for the Bridge Engineer, ASCE, 2023
• Seismic Design of Curtain Wall Systems, ASCE, 2023
• Project Planning and Scheduling, ASCE, 2023
• Alternative Design for Anchorage to Concrete, ASCE, 2023
• A Data Base and Recommendation on 400 Failed MSE Walls with Geosynthetic Reinforcement, ASCE, 2023
• Elimination of Deck Expansion Joints on Existing Bridges, ASCE, 2021
• Post-tensioning Concepts and Practice – Beyond the Basics, ASCE, 2021
• Quality Management, ASCE, 2021
• 30-Hour OSHA Hazard Recognition Training for the Construction Industry course, 2014

Speaking Engagements

“Schuylkill River Trail Cable-Stayed Pedestrian Bridge including Integrated Construction Methods of Cable-Stay Pedestrian Bridges” at 2025 International Bridge Conference

“Mass Concrete Mix Design and Placement Monitoring at Kosciuszko Bridge Project” to ASCE, Metropolitan Construction Group, 2016

Publications

Cardamone, M., & Carullo, S. (2025). IBC 25-21: Integrated Construction Methods of Cable-Stay Pedestrian Bridges [Conference paper]. International Bridge Conference. Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania.

v. 09/2/26