Y-12 opens Bear Creek Road bypass

A new bypass on Y‑12’s east–west thoroughfare, Bear Creek Road, is now open to traffic.

Participating in the ceremony officially opening the Bear Creek Road bypass are, from left, John Howanitz, Anne Backus of Y-12 infrastructure programs, Robert Spurling of transformation and projects, Ted Sherry and Darrel Kohlhorst.

Dan Kral, left, director of construction for Stein Construction Co., receives a word of thanks from B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Darrel Kohlhorst before the ribbon-cutting ceremony debuting the new stretch of Bear Creek Road, at Y-12 National Security Complex.

The segment of road north of Jack Case Center and east of Bear Creek Portal parking lot was completed by Chattanooga’s Stein Construction Co. Inc.

John Howanitz, senior vice president for transformation and projects, said Y-12 sought a contractor with infrastructure expertise rather than attempting the work in-house.

He credited Stein Construction with completing the project well within the desired budget and time frame.

The project concluded with no worker injuries, a fact underscored by site leaders.

“That’s tremendous,” said Ted Sherry, manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 Site Office at a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month.

The bypass project allows Y-12 to complete security upgrades that respond to DOE policy changes over the past several years by moving traffic away from production facilities and behind new security fencing.

The bypass comprises about three quarters of a mile of two 12‑foot lanes with 4‑foot shoulders and turning lanes at intersections.

It runs north of the existing road, and some stretches of the bypass require guardrails.

New intersections for parking at Central Portal and Bear Creek Portal will be constructed.

An estimated 2,000 people drive daily on the stretch of road affected
by the bypass construction.

B&W Y-12, a limited liability enterprise of The Babcock and Wilcox Company and Bechtel National Inc., was selected to operate the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration in 2000.

Y-12 maintains and enhances the safety, security, effectiveness and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and provides expertise and training to respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Visit www.y12.doe.gov for more information.