R.J. Watson, Inc.

Join Us Friday 4/16 for the ABCD Spring Seminar Come see Ron Watson, President of R.J. Watson Inc, present about High Load Multirotational Bearings used for the LaGuardia Airport Modernization Project! Several case histories will be explored along with an overview of testing and installation practices. Bearings are a critical bridge component in that they need to accommodate loads, movements, and rotations without damage to the structure. For many short and simple-span bridges, elastomeric bearings are sufficient, but as loads and movements increase it becomes more cost effective and practical to utilize high-load multi-rotational bearings (HLMRB). While there are several types of HLMRB, the most popular – based on long term performance and versatility – is the disk bearing. For more information or to sign up: https://linktr.ee/rjwatson #makingbridgesbetter #bridgeengineering #bridgebearings

This week, we hosted Ronald Watson and Jay Conklin, P.E., president and vice president of R.J. Watson, Inc. in our Structural Engineering and Earthquake Laboratory (SEESL). RJ Watson is a local company at the forefront of designing and manufacturing bearings and seismic isolators. Ron, a civil engineering alumnus and RJ Watson have been fruitful collaborators with SEESL and department faculty for over three decades. During the visit, Andreas Stavridis, associate professor and SEESL director and scot weinreber, SEESL manager gave Ron and Jay a tour of the lab and discussed the equipment upgrades currently underway thanks in part to the generous support from RJ Watson. #UBuffalo #UBCSEE

I'm thrilled to share a project that's close to my heart! R.J. Watson, Inc. had the privilege of manufacturing and supplying four structural Disktron Bearings each capable of withstanding vertical service loads of 427,000 pounds, to Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc. for the new Ralph Wilson Pedestrian Bridge in Buffalo, NY, which spans the I-190. The bearings were all designed and manufactured here locally at our facility near Buffalo. It all started in April of 2021 when our team received an email from schlaich bergermann partner sbp about needing design help for the bearings on a pedestrian bridge in Buffalo, NY. We had previously worked with them on a Pedestrian Bridge in Oklahoma that same year and little did we know the strong connection it would hold to the Buffalo community and the Buffalo Bills. Designed with community input and built by global experts, it was fabricated in Italy by Cimolai Group, transported via the historic Erie Canal, and is now in its final position at Ralph Wilson Park. As a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, knowing our work supports a structure connected to Ralph Wilson fills me with immense pride. We’re honored to contribute to this transformative project, linking the Lower West Side to a revitalized 100-acre park. We can't wait to see this stunning bridge open to the public in 2026! No AI generated images on this one. Just another routine image of Josh Allen leaping over obstacles that get in his way. ?? Original Image Credit: Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy #Engineering #Infrastructure #RalphWilsonBridge #BuffaloNY #CommunityDevelopment #BridgeTechnology #JoshAllen #CivilEngineering #BridgeConstruction #StructuralEngineering

Is "Throwback Tuesday" a thing? Either way, let's revisit the iconic Goethals Bridge project, a testament to collaboration and innovation that began over a decade ago. R.J. Watson, Inc. proudly supplied 190 high-load bearings to the general contractor, Kiewit-Weeks-Massman AJV, as part of a team that overcame significant challenges to deliver this remarkable infrastructure. Owned by the The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the $1.5-billion bridge was designed by Parsons Corporation, whose weekly "task force environment" brought major stakeholders together to tackle complexities like tower height limitations, redundancy standards, and environmental constraints. The project won Engineering News-Record New York's Best Project Award for highways/bridges and the Excellence in Safety Award, and was unanimously chosen as Project of the Year for 2018. The twin-span cable-stayed design, created in response to the task force approach, provided long-term resilience and operational redundancy, ensuring a 100- to 150-year service life. We're honored to have been part of this exceptional team that not only improved traffic flow between New York and New Jersey but also built a structure that truly embodies Major General George W. Goethals’ spirit of dedication and vision. Major General George Washington Goethals (1858-1928) was an accomplished U.S. Army engineer best known for his pivotal role as the chief engineer of the Panama Canal. For the AI-adapted image, it's a creative fusion of history and modernity: the Goethals Bridge envisioned crossing the Panama Canal, a nod to the engineering prowess of George W. Goethals. This AI adaptation, created using Midjourney, captures the spirit of innovation! #bridgeengineering #artificialintelligence #AIBridgeArt #bridgeconstruction #EngineeringArt #innovativeengineering #structuralengineering #bridges #bridgetechnology #structuralengineering #ai #generativeai Kiewit Weeks Marine, Inc. Massman Construction Co. Parsons Corporation

R.J. Watson, Inc. is excited and proud to unveil a cutting-edge solar array and battery system installed at our Alden, NY facility, completed by Buffalo Solar With 536 panels and significant battery backup, it slashes our electric bill by 75% and offers a day's backup power, showcasing our commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency. This cost-effective project, boosted by state and federal incentives, sets new industry standards. For the AI generated image, I used Midjourney to imagine our actual solar panel photo transformed to show what it might look like during a total solar eclipse—a spectacular event set to grace Buffalo in less than a month! I'm passionate about discussing this project, its technology, and the financial benefits and incentives involved. If you're interested in learning more, please don't hesitate to contact me! #AI #generativeai #solar #solarenergy #solarpower #renewableenergy #energystorage #gosolar #renewables