Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. (HRC) was selected by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to provide construction engineering services for the Potterville Rest Area, located along I-69 on the northbound side near Potterville, approximately 12 miles south of Lansing, Michigan.  The actual ramps and parking areas had been installed when the freeway was constructed, but MDOT plans were delayed 11 years due to funding and traffic flow issues.

HRC provided complete construction administration, field observation, request for information handling, shop drawing processing, monthly estimate processing, contract change modifications and processing extensions of time.  As with all MDOT projects, HRC tracked the complete project with MDOT's Project Manager software that automatically tracks installed materials for payment based on the Field Observer's Daily Reports.

HRC's construction observation work addressed a variety of different work tasks for the rural setting.  There were no existing utilities to the site so electrical and natural gas services were brought in from Lansing Road, approximately 1,450 feet away, on the opposite side of the I-69 freeway.  Water service was brought in from Potterville with a 6" pipe directionally bored under the freeway and booster pumps required for the water system to maintain a satisfactory pressure within the facility.  The sewer pipe was routed through the trees to the existing manhole.

The building is situated on the wooded site, nestled among the trees, east of the truck and automobile parking.  As much of the natural landscaping and trees were preserved to maintain the rural setting for the facility.

The Rest Area building itself is the larger of the two styles that MDOT currently builds with two men's rooms, two women's rooms and a lobby.  Also included were a large janitor's room/office, a large store room and a vending machine storage closet.  The building was designed utilizing maintenance free materials that were also vandalism resistant.  These materials included ceramic tile floor and walls, solid surfacing vanities, solid phenolic toilet partitions, and prefinished aluminum doors.  The use of paint in the public areas was kept to a minimum.  The building design also utilized several unique design features, stressed skin insulated wall panels, timber trusses and a tongue and groove wood ceiling in the main lobby.