DESIGN BUILD

I-95 MANAGED LANES (FROM SOUTH OF SR-112 TO NORTH OF SR-826 )

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) together with local transit partners, plans to significantly reduce congestion in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. This area of Southeast Florida has experienced extensive population growth in recent years which has been accompanied by severe congestion, particularly along the I-95 corridor. This corridor serves as a vital transportation link for the region carrying an average of 250,000 to 300,000 vehicles a day.
 
In enhancing the corridors mobility options for motorists and transit users, FDOT planned a Pilot Project to provide Managed Lanes on I-95, from I-395 in Miami-Dade County, to I-595 in Broward County. This involves the conversion of the existing High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV) to limited access managed lanes called the '95 Express'. The 95 Express lanes will provide South Florida motorists and transit users with a viable option for consistent and dependable travel conditions, particularly during peak travel times.
 
FDOT elected to pursue a Public Private Partnership in the development of these facilities within Miami-Dade County. They chose to utilize the Design Build Finance (DBF) method of project delivery and selected the DBF Team of C3TS-MCM-FCC CO for the implementation and construction of this project. The 95 Express Lanes Project in Miami-Dade County is designed to create “Express” toll lanes (two in each direction) along I-95 by converting the existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. 95 Express is the first project of its kind in South Florida and heralds a new era in con­gestion management along the region’s major corridors.
 
At a cost of $122 Million; the project includes the portion of I-95 between SR 112 (also known I-195 and the Airport Expressway) and the Golden Glades Interchange. This is the first of future planned HOV lane conversion projects in South Florida. It is expected that this concept will be carried further north from the Golden Glades Interchange to I-595 in Broward County by 2010.
 
The project includes re-striping I-95 and modifying shoulders to provide two 11-foot Express Lanes and four 11-foot regular travel lanes in each direction; installing electronic Open Road Tolling (ORT) equipment similar to that already in use along SR 836 and the Florida Turnpike; implementing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)-related equipment including electronic message signs and ramp signals; widening several bridges along I-95 in the vicinity of SR 112 and modifying existing on and off ramps between I-95 and SR 112 to accommodate the new Express Lanes; modifying storm water drainage; and converting the NW 10th Avenue on ramp to northbound I-95 to a dedicated Express Lane. In order to minimize impacts and construction time, the Design Build Team is constructing the project in a highly accelerated process utilizing separate phases for the north bound and south bound toll facilities. This will allow the Department to open the northbound toll lanes within 170 days of the start of the project to provide immediate congestion relief in the northbound direction between SR 112 and the Golden Glades Interchange.
 
These Express Lanes will be available for motorists with a SunPass transponder. Express lanes will be free for express transit services, carpools with three or more passengers that are registered with South Florida Commuter Services, registered van pools, hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles and motorcycles. Trucks will not be allowed to use 95 Express lanes and will be required to travel in one of three outside general travel lanes.

C3TS was contracted for the reconstruction of an existing 2-lane undivided roadway into a 2-lane divided facility by FDOT. This corridor is part of the 18-mile stretch linking Florida City to the Florida Keys and the subject of several fatalities over the past years. The improvements include a new 14-ft wide median with concrete barrier wall designed to eliminate head-on crashes. In addition, there is a 1-mile section where passing lanes are being provided. Coordination with utilities was very important as impacts to the FKAA 36-in watermain were to be avoided given the fact that this is the sole source water supply to all the Florida Keys. In addition, C3TS prepared JPA plans for the relocation of BST facilities.

One of the more important issues was the soil stabilization as the new road was to sit overtop of approximately 6-ft of A-8 material. Our team devised an innovative construction scheme and TCP that permitted the contractor to work continuously with minimal effects to the traveling public. In addition, seven concrete box culverts were built to support wildlife crossings.

Extensive coordination was required to build the culverts in phases and in an expedited manner. The Community Asphalt-C3TS Team was selected given their strong technical capabilities and our team outbid 3-competitiors by approximately $20 million and 1-year in contract time. The efforts presented for this project subsequently became the basis for future projects along the stretch.

Community Asphalt/OHL/C3TS was awarded the first unsolicited proposal accepted by Florida Department of Transportation! As a result, C3TS will be participating in the Design Conference 2008: People Moving People (July 28-30, 2008) presented by the FDOT. The conference will take place in Orlando and will be attended by more than 1500 transportation engineers and representatives from state, federal, and local governments. Walfry Pevida, P.E., Vice President of C3TS, will be joined by Derek Fusco, P.E. of FDOT in presenting information about design/build/financing and the process of unsolicited proposals. Mr. Pevida will discuss the lessons learned throughout the unsolicited proposal process for the reconstruction of SR 5 / US-1 from south of the C-111 Canal to SW 344th Street in Miami-Dade County.

SR-5 (US-1) DESIGN-BUILD-FINANCE FROM SOUTH OF THE C-111 CANAL TO S.W. 344TH STREET
Miami-Dade County, Florida

SR-5 (US-1) is a 2-lane undivided rural highway that connects Miami-Dade County to the Florida Keys. This project entails approximately 10.5 miles of US-1 that is part of the 18-Mile Stretch of US-1 between Florida City and Key Largo. This section has experienced a significant amount of fatal head on collisions over the years with increasing numbers making this a critical crash corridor. This section is also the principal hurricane evacuation route for the Keys and is one of the most environmentally sensitive corridors in the State.

This project is being constructed under a Public Private Partnership utilizing the Design Build Finance (DBF) method of project delivery by the DBF Team of C3TS-Community Asphalt-OHL. The project will be completed through a structure of "innovative financing," whereby the contractor obtains financing to complete the project from an outside entity, avoiding the traditional pay-as-you-go process for these types of construction projects. Under Florida Statue 334.30; Private Transportation Financing and Florida Administrative Code Rule 14-107; Public-Private Transportation Facilities; projects within the Florida Department of Transportation’s 5-Year work program can be advanced through the use of private funding utilizing an unsolicited proposal under certain restrictions. An unsolicited proposal is one in which an interested party can offer to construct projects that are within the budget of the Florida Department of Transportation. This project is the first unsolicited proposal in the United States accepted by the US DOT utilizing an “Innovative Financing” structure.

At a cost of $112 Million; the project includes a new 14-ft wide median with concrete barrier wall designed to eliminate head-on crashes. In addition, there are several 1-mile sections where passing lanes are being provided. Coordination with utilities is very important requiring the relocation of the Florida Keys Aqueduct (FKAA) 36-in watermain which is the sole source water supply to all the Florida Keys.

One of the more important issues is soil stabilization as the new road was to sit overtop of approximately 6-ft of A-8 material. Our team devised an innovative construction scheme and TCP that permits the contractor to work continuously with minimal effects to the traveling public. In addition, the bascule bridge over the C-11 Canal is being replaced with a fixed span structure.

SR-836 MAINLINE TOLL PLAZA COMPLEX MINOR DESIGN
Miami-Dade County, Florida

The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) selected the MCM/HNTB/C3TS Team to deliver construction plans for the introduction of a new Toll Plaza along SR-836 between NW 107th Avenue and NW 87th Avenue. The new toll plaza will utilize Open Road Tolling (ORT) technology so motorists are not obligated to slow down or stop to pay the toll. The project delivery is a hybrid system between conventional design-bid-build and design-build.

HNTB/C3TS are responsible for the Plans Production to the client, MDX, while working together with the Contractor, MCM, during Plans Development. The Contractor places his bid during design around the 60% phase while the client maintains the option to keep the bid or to advertise the job to secure additional bids. This concept allows for the design team to work closely with the Contractor during the design phase. C3TS was commissioned to prepare Traffic Control Plans for the project. Several challenges presented themselves including multiple construction jobs occurring within the same limits simultaneously.

C3TS coordinated the efforts between the Contractor appointed to extend SR-836 to the west, the Contractor for the 97th Avenue bridge overpass being built by Miami-Dade County, and the Toll Plaza Contractor. All parties have incentive/disincentive based contracts with large reward bonuses or heavy liquidated damages built in. The scheme developed by C3TS enabled the Toll Plaza Contractor (MCM) to perform all work items within an acceptable time range regardless of the TCP phasing for the project to the west.

JEWFISH CREEK MINOR AND MAJOR BRIDGE REHABILITATION
Key Largo, Florida

The firm of C3TS was part of the original design team that developed final construction plans for a new high-level bridge to replace the existing bascule bridge over Jewfish Creek along SR-5 / US-1 in the Upper Florida Keys. 

The original concept included a four lane facility with two access interchanges on either side of Jewfish Creek to access Gilbert’s Marina and the Anchorage Resort.  The interchange structure for the Anchorage Resort consisted of a series of bridge ramps connecting to the mainline bridge; while the access interchange to the marina consisted of the use of geogrid stabilized embankment over approximately eleven feet of muck. 

As part of the original design the firm of C3TS was also responsible for the development of the maintenance of traffic and stormwater pollution prevention plans for the two mile corridor.  When this original project was stopped by environmental and public concerns the Florida Department of Transportation modified the original project to a two lane facility and advertised the project to utilize the Design Build project delivery system. 

C3TS as part of the Design Build team competed and won the design build contract worth approximately $140 Million dollars.  As an innovative concept the design build team developed a new bridge ramp configuration for the access to the Anchorage Resort consisting of the innovative use of four diamond type slip ramps and a roundabout for the five leg intersection below the mainline.  The renderings depicted here represent the bridge ramps and bulkhead wall design concepts designed by C3TS as part of the Design Build Team.

WEST MASHTA DRIVE BRIDGE
Key Biscayne, Florida

The Village of Key Biscayne hired the Design-Build team of C3TS and Cone Construction, Inc. to build a bridge in order to produce a tidal flushing action between two dead-end water bodies, with the aim of providing storm surge protection and regular tidal cleansing. Our design utilized pre-cast concrete arched units to span the channel, and was guided by the principle that a concern for aesthetics does not compromise engineering technical quality, but rather serves to improve it. The construction was phased to allow two-way traffic throughout construction. With its new amenities, the bridge has become a focal point for the entire community. Built into the bridge are wide sidewalks and overlooks, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to stop and enjoy the views of Biscayne Bay.