AASHTO Journal, 10 August 2012
The New York State Department of Transportation has awarded the state’s first design-build contract, projected to fix multiple bridges and create 410 jobs.
NYSDOT announced Wednesday it awarded the $29.3 million contract through the NY Works program for necessary repairs to 13 bridges in the Hudson Valley region. The design-build method is a major piece of the NY Works program, which focuses on improving bridges that are in fair condition and bringing them into good condition. Construction contractor Harrison & Burrowes and design consultant Clough Harbor & Associates were awarded the contract for the bridge repair.
“Using design-build as a method to procure contracts further accelerates our rebuilding efforts with funding from the Governor’s innovative NY Works program,” said NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald in a statement. “This contract will enable the Department to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, and maintain critical links between New York’s communities.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo worked with the state legislature in 2011 to get the design-build practice in place in order to expedite job creation and major infrastructure repair projects across the state.
“The NY Works program has allowed the state to accelerate funding to make sure these critical repairs to our roads and bridges can begin as quickly as possible,” he said. “By using the design-build method, New York State is changing the way we invest in job-creating projects by cutting down on the time between when the bids go out and when the shovels are in the ground, while saving taxpayer dollars.”
A list of the 13 bridges to receive the repairs is available at bit.ly/NYWorksbridge.