HARRISBURG – PennDOT has announced that five teams have submitted statements of qualification for the department’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, an innovative Public Private Partnership (P3) aimed at reducing the state’s number of structurally deficient bridges.
Through the project, at least 500 bridges of similar design would be replaced under one contract. Cost savings are anticipated since the same basic design and construction standards will be used for multiple bridges.
“Due to Governor Corbett’s leadership on transportation, we will now be able to complete at least 500 bridges, far more than would have been possible without the transportation plan,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “I’m pleased to see that private industry is coming forward to partner with us on this effort to keep our bridges open and safe.”
The teams and team members submitting statements of qualification were:
- Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners: Plenary Group, The Walsh Group, Granite Construction Company, HDR Engineering, HNTB Corporation and Infrastructure Corporation of America;
- Keystone Bridge Partners: InfraRed Capital Partners, Kiewit, Parsons, The Allan A. Myers family of companies, DBi and American Infrastructure;
- Commonwealth Bridge Partners: John Laing Investments, Fluor, American Bridge Company, Traylor Bros. Inc., Joseph B. Fay Co., STV Incorporated and Infrastructure and Industrial Constructors;
- Keystone Bridge Builders: Macquarie, PCL, Conti Enterprises and Stantec Consulting Services; and
- Pennsylvania Crossings: Meridiam, Lane Construction, AECOM, Trumbull, Wagman Companies and Cofiroute.
PennDOT will review the statements of qualification and, after evaluating them, invite the highest scoring teams to submit proposals for the project this spring. The statements outline the proposers’ ability to meet the requirements of the project. The department will make a best-value determination based on cost and technical approach in selecting a proposal, with the goal of beginning construction in 2015.
The selected team will manage the bridges’ design, construction and maintenance under one contract to streamline design and construction activities. The selected team will also maintain the bridges for a yet-to-be-determined number of years, though PennDOT will continue to own the bridges and department staff will perform routine maintenance such as snow and debris removal.
In addition, the contractor will be responsible for financing the effort but PennDOT will make performance-based payments for the work at yet-to-be-established milestones.
The project was approved by the state’s P3 Board on Sept. 27, 2013, and PennDOT has hosted two industry forums to educate potential, private-sector stakeholders on the scope and requirements.
To learn more about the project or P3 in Pennsylvania, visit www.P3forPA.pa.gov.
