Projects Selected for Stimulus Funds

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act puts $2.2 billion in transportation-related and infrastructure improvements; state sinks in millions more. Also, DFW connector megaproject slated to start.

Contract Awarded for DFW Connector Design-Build Plan

The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded a design-build comprehensive development agreement to Fort Worth-based NorthGate Constructors to develop, design and construct up to 14.4 mi of the SH 114/121 corridor, known as the DFW Connector.

This design-build team is led by Kiewit Texas Construction LP of Fort Worth and Zachry Construction Corp. of San Antonio.

“This will be one of the largest construction projects in the state - a megaproject that will be accelerated by using design-build methods. The project’s uniqueness is the number of interchanges across seven highways all interconnecting in a very small area,” Michael Peters, spokesperson for TxDOT’s Fort Worth District, told Texas Construction.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2010 and be complete by 2015, less than half the time usually needed for traditional contracts of this magnitude, Peters says. In comparison, the IH-30/35W Interchange in downtown Fort Worth required seven projects over 10 years to complete.

The DFW Connector aims to double the existing capacity and improve mobility on seven highways, six interchanges and 10 bridges. SH 114 will be widened to as many as 14 main lanes with up to four additional toll-managed lanes and up to seven frontage road lanes. The improvements could ultimately rebuild six interchanges.

“Traffic demand is expected to double on the corridor by the year 2030,” Peters says. He adds that in 2007 the average vehicles per day on SH 114 was 189,000. The projected vehicles per day by 2030 is 359,000.

The project will ultimately double the existing capacity for approximately $1.5 billion.

“Northgate offered the best value to the region, providing the best technical and financial overall proposal,” Peters says.

TxDOT and the region identified $667 million in public funds for the DFW Connector. The Commission committed an additional $250 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to the project.

Pre-construction activities will begin this summer with construction beginning in 2010.

By using a CDA design-build method, the right-of-way, design and construction phases of work are accelerated. While design work is being undertaken on one part of the DFW Connector, construction will be under way on another section.

The CDA is not a concession-model, project leaders say, and no long-term lease agreements will result from it when the project is complete. The team’s work is done unless TxDOT chooses to have it provide maintenance.

The department is continuing the environmental process and expects clearance from FHWA soon. Upon execution of the contract and environmental clearance, right-of-way acquisition and design will begin this year.

In addition, all roadways and rights-of-way will remain state-owned. TxDOT will retain oversight throughout the contract and will perform regular audits of the contractor. The North Texas Tollway Authority will operate the managed lanes. Any revenue derived from the managed lanes will first go to operation and maintenance, and any excess would be retained by the region.

$74 Million in Transportation Enhancement Projects Approved

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved spending $74 million on 22 transportation-related enhancement projects. Most of the funds were made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly referred to as the federal economic stimulus bill.

The ARRA provided for an infusion of more than $2.2 billion to Texas for transportation-related infrastructure improvements. The stimulus bill requires states to set aside a portion of those funds for transportation enhancements. For Texas, that amount is $67 million.

TxDOT previously put about $128 million in Transportation Enhancement Program projects, but they were slowed because of funding issues. As a remedy, TxDOT staff recommended to the commission that the funds be used to advance many of the projects that are currently on the books.

The projects were selected in past program calls, but because of recent cash flow limitations were unable to move forward. With this action, the first round of projects will now be able to move to construction within a year.

Under the current schedule, many of these projects can be ready by March 2010, which is the deadline specified in the ARRA legislation.

$56 Million Construction Begins on Arlington Interchanges

Houston-based W. W. Webber LLC started work recently to alleviate a major bottleneck for motorists at the SH 360/SH 180 interchange in Arlington.

The $56 million project will reconstruct two Division Street bridges and a railroad bridge. The project includes the addition of shoulders on SH 360, improved ramp access and new continuous frontage roads under the rail lines.

The project is scheduled for completion by fall 2011.

TxDOT Funds Two Rural Interchanges in Odessa

The Texas Transportation Commission has approved construction of two rural interchanges in West Texas as projects under a 2009 Safety Bond Program that provide $600 million in funding for highway improvements having the greatest potential for reducing traffic accidents. Work is targeted to start in late 2010.

The projects are for interchanges on FM 1776 at U.S. 285 in Pecos County 14 mi north of Fort Stockton and on SH 115 at FM 1788 in Andrews County 12 mi east of Andrews. Each project received an allocation of about $5.5 million.

Both intersections have a history of fatal accidents.

The commission also approved nearly $1 million for three left-turn locations in the Odessa District – all intersections with safety issues.

Houston Firm Named Finalist in Engineering Competition

Houston-based RS&H Inc. is a finalist in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 43rd annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition for the IH-10/IH-610 Interchange Reconstruction project in Houston.

ACEC is a Washington-D.C.-based engineering industry association.

RS&H was selected by TxDOT to develop a comprehensive improvements strategy for the project, which added new ramps and bridges to the four-level interchange, improved the roadways and surrounding street network and replaced a Union Pacific Railroad dual-track line, including a railroad shoofly bridge. The project was completed eight months ahead of schedule, while ensuring maximum safety and minimal inconvenience.

The project is among 168 engineering projects from across the nation being recognized by ACEC as preeminent engineering achievements for 2008.

The winners had not been announced at press time.

Reece Albert Begins Building Midland’s East Loop 250 Interchanges

The Texas Transportation Commission, the five-member body that oversees the Texas Department of Transportation, awarded a $28 million contract to San Angelo-based Reece Albert Inc. to build a pair of interchanges in Midland.

Construction on the latest interchanges began in mid May with the project slated for completion by end of 2010.