Broward County’s $810 million south runway reconstruction and expansion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport moved closer to reality when officials selected a 15-member team led by PBS&J of Tampa, Fla., and RS&H of Jacksonville, Fla., to provide preliminary design work.

The work will expand Runway 9R/27L from 5,000 ft to more than 8,000 ft. The Federal Aviation Administration projects a total cost of $810 million, in 2007 dollars.

The PBS&J + RS&H team still must negotiate a contract. The aviation department estimates the contract will be in the neighborhood of $15 million for the flat work related to the runway. RS&H expects the team will complete design drawings within 18 months, provided the airport secures necessary funding. Money is available to start the process. The county will use various funding sources, including the FAA, Florida Dept. of Transportation and passenger facility charge revenue.

The runway will span Florida East Coast Railway tracks and U.S. Highway 1. The county plans to award a design-build contract for the structural aspects of the expansion project. Construction managers for both sections of the project will work under the county’s program manager, AECOM, formerly DMJM Aviation, of Tampa. The county is hopeful of a 2014 project completion.