Dr. Louis Berger initially founded The Louis Berger Group (Berger) in 1953, as a soils mechanics and foundations engineering firm. His first major assignment soon followed: the design of a major portion of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the first turnpike in the United States. Soon afterwards, he opened a second office in East Orange, New Jersey. By 1955, Dr. Berger's work load and staff continued to grow with assignments at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station and the first assignment for the New Jersey State Highway Department — the interchange at Amboy Avenue and U.S. Route 1 in Edison Township. In 1956, the biggest single highway contract in Berger's infancy, 13.5 miles of Interstate Route 80 between Denville and Netcong, New Jersey commenced. This was the first interstate road to be designed in the State of New Jersey and the first to be constructed. By 1957, Berger supplied the inspection services at Lakehurst for the construction of the jet sled facilities, the catapult and the arresting gear facilities. Berger also designed several large bridges for the city of Buffalo, New York and began the design of the Ohio Street Lift Bridge over the Buffalo River.