WGI has announced that it is lead designer for the team awarded the US$600m contract for the First Coast Expressway (SR 23) from east of the CR 16A spur to east of the CR 209 - commonly known as the Shands Bridge project.
The contract for FDOT's District 2 will see WGI leading all design-related services and construction administration tasks for the design team. Partners Johnson Brothers Corporation and American Bridge will manage the overall project and construct the new extension of the First Coast Expressway, including the new Shands Bridge.
This project centrepiece is a new four-lane bridge over the St Johns River with a bicycle/pedestrian path and scenic overlooks, replacing the old Shands Bridge.
The design-build team received the highest technical score supported by cost and time savings proposed during the procurement process.
Mike Madison, WGI's alterative delivery manager, said: "The combined experience of our team and our innovative, environmentally sustainable project approach were differentiating factors in being selected for the Shands Bridge project. Our pursuit team is thrilled with the project award, and we look forward to delivering a successful project. Our innovation eliminated over 1,000 in-water piles, saving tens of millions of dollars and reducing the project's construction duration."
Construction of the new Shands Bridge will use barges for staging construction materials and a host of construction activities in the St Johns River - Florida's longest river. Enhanced environmental-protection measures and water-quality monitoring stations will be employed to protect the river's quality.
