Baker Receives Bridge Software Development Contract From PennDOT.

Business Editors

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2000

Michael Baker Jr., Inc., has received a contract valued at $5 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to maintain and enhance the Department's Bridge Automated Design and Drafting Software - Version 3 (BRADD-3). Michael Baker Jr., Inc., is a subsidiary of Michael Baker Corporation (AMEX:BKR).

Under this five-year contract, Baker will maintain and enhance the Commonwealth's BRADD system, which was originally developed by Baker in 1985. BRADD-3 designs and drafts nearly complete contract drawings for both steel and concrete simple-span bridges.

Planned enhancements include the implementation of PennDOT's newly released dual units standards, the addition of integral abutments, development of a Graphical User Interface, and upgrades to the geometry system. These enhancements are identified and prioritized each year by PennDOT's Bridge Software Users Group. Baker has been programming and maintaining bridge design software including BRADD for more than 14 years.

"We are very proud of our role in the development and enhancement of the Department's BRADD software over the years and are excited to be working with the Department to ensure it remains an effective design tool today and well into the future," Mary Rosick, Baker's project manager, said.

According to Jay Fitzgerald, project manager from PennDOT, "This contract will give the Department the means and the flexibility to continue keeping BRADD-3 the up-to-date, state-of-the-art software system for the design of single span bridges in Pennsylvania."

Baker is recognized nationally as a leader in the development of transportation software, particularly for bridges. In addition to BRADD-3 for PennDOT, Baker has developed both a bridge design software system and a bridge load rating software system for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The load rating software, called Virtis, provides for storage of detailed descriptions of more than 500,000 bridge structures in the U.S.

Michael Baker Corporation (www.mbakercorp.com) provides engineering and energy expertise for public and private sector clients worldwide. The firm's primary services include facilities design, engineering design for the transportation and civil infrastructure markets, operation and maintenance of oil and gas production facilities, and construction management for building and highway projects. Baker employs more than 3,200 in over 30 offices across the United States and internationally.