John Poulson to Lead Complex Bridges in the Southeast for WSP USA

Brings nearly three decades of bridge designing experience – 22 years with WSP – to new leadership role with the firm’s Complex Bridge Technical Excellence Center.

TAMPA — John Poulson, a veteran bridge designer whose projects have included Florida’s Pensacola Bay Bridge and Seattle’s Skagit River Bridge, was named complex bridge manager for the U.S. and Southeast region at WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy.

In his new role, Poulson will primarily collaborate on projects in the Southeast region of the U.S.; but his responsibilities will also include work in other U.S. regions to win, design and deliver large, complex bridge projects. He will also supervise the movable bridge staff in WSP’s Complex Bridge Technical Excellence Center (TEC) and help grow this market.

Poulson, a vice president at WSP, most recently served as the firm’s Southeast regional structures manager. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with WSP engineers to deliver numerous challenging projects, including high-level structures spanning navigable waterways, complex urban interchanges, accelerated bridge construction (ABC) projects and arch structures.

“John has been continually involved with design-build projects for WSP and has proven to be particularly adept at helping the firm develop innovative project approaches that enable our clients to successfully win and deliver these demanding projects,” said Barton Newton, national director of complex bridges at WSP. “I am pleased that he will now have an opportunity to share his skills and expertise on a wider scale as complex bridge manager for both the Southeast and across the U.S., for the benefit of our business and for our clients.”

His WSP projects have included many high-profile bridges. He served as the principal-in-charge for the recent replacement of Veterans Memorial Bridge in Daytona Beach, Florida; design principal-in-charge of the three-mile Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement for the Florida Department of Transportation; and design manager for the Interstate 5 Skagit River Bridge design-build project in Seattle, replacing a 160-foot section of the bridge that collapsed.

Poulson is a graduate of Florida State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in civil engineering. He is a licensed professional engineer in Florida.

About WSP USA

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 10,000 employees in 170 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper. wsp.com