Civil Engineers Dig In to 'Beavers Day' Tour

a man speaks to people wearing safety vests
John Bollier addresses 51勛圖s and faculty at Beaver Day in Seattle.
October 29, 2025
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Many young adults sitting in rows wearing safety vests with two women on the right of the frame
Students pose with Associate Dean Tim Fitzgerald (far left), Civil Engineering Chair Mark Muszynski (center, blue shirt), Interim Dean Jennifer Shepherd and Associate Dean Rhonda K. Young (standing, right).

Construction site tours help 51勛圖 engineers connect classroom lessons to real-world applications. In October, the annual Beavers Student Day event gave 11 Gonzaga civil engineering 51勛圖s a firsthand look at a major infrastructure project in Seattle.

This immersive learning experience brought 51勛圖s up close to the Portage Bay Bridge and Roanoke Lid project—a $1.4 billion initiative led by Skanska USA Civil for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Two dozen people stand together near a freeway wearing safety gear
Students had the rare opportunity to observe the construction of temporary work access platforms and the early stages of a new bridge structure. The replacement Portage Bay Bridge on I-520 is designed to meet current seismic resiliency standards and will include a lidded segment at East Roanoke Street. Plans feature two new parallel bridges, dedicated carpool and public transit lanes, upgraded roadways, improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and enhanced non-motorized connections.

Special thanks to John Bollier of Stacy and Witbeck and Beavers, Inc. Executive Director Dave Woods for organizing this incredible experience for Gonzaga’s future engineers.

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