Planning

ARIZONA–NEW MEXICO Southwestern Power II LLC, a subsidiary of MMR Group, is planning to construct the SunZia Southwest Transmission Line, which will transport electricity from southwestern New Mexico to southeastern Arizona via two single-circuit 500-kV transmission lines, totaling 515 miles. The project also includes the construction of five substations: in Arizona, Pinal Central in Pinal County and Willow in Graham County; and in New Mexico, Hidalgo II in Hidalgo County, SunZia South in Luna County and SunZia East in Lincoln County. EPC Consultants Inc. is the designer, and MMR Constructors has been selected as the contractor. Construction is expected to begin in 2018. The project’s value has been estimated at $2 billion. Southwestern Power II LLC, Attn: Tom Ray, Project Contact, 3610 N. 44th St., Phoenix, 85018. DR#07-00765544.

CONNECTICUT The Capitol Region Education Council is planning to build the Two Rivers Magnet High School in Bloomfield. The 183,000-sq-ft building will be located at 29 Griffin Rd. North. Friar Associates Inc. is the designer, and Newfield Construction Inc. has been chosen as the construction manager-at-risk. The project is valued at $75.5 million. Capitol Region Education Council, Attn: David Fresk, Project Manager, 147 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, 06106. DR#14-00559519.

ILLINOIS The Illinois Dept. of Transportation is planning to carry out the GS17 Western Ave. & CSX Grade Separation Project, one of the components of Project CREATE. By creating either an overpass or an underpass for vehicles, the job will eliminate the at-grade crossing of Western Avenue and three CSX railroad tracks, located between 135th and 136th streets in Blue Island. The project will reduce roadway congestion—alleviating an estimated 38,000 motorist-hours of delay annually—and improve safety by eliminating the potential for collisions between vehicles and trains. The project has been valued at $51.1 million. Illinois Dept. of Transportation, 2300 S. Dirksen Pkwy., Springfield, 62764. DR#11-00585143.

PENNSYLVANIA Core Realty is planning to convert seven floors of the former Macy’s department-store building into 311 apartments. Sited at 400 Fifth Ave. in Pittsburgh, the project has been valued at between $15 million and $25 million. Core Realty, Attn: Randy Mineo, Executive Vice President, 114 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, 19106. DR#16-00468678.

WASHINGTON Turner Construction Co., the construction manager, currently is evaluating subcontractor bids for the new Pacific Rim Aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo, in Tacoma. The project entails constructing two primary cast-in-place concrete tanks, totaling 340,000 gallons; acrylic viewing windows; animal life-support systems; and exhibit and education areas, totaling 34,000 sq ft. Esherick Homsey Dodge & Davis and BRCA Design are the designers. The project is valued at $33 million. Turner Construction Co., Attn: Jonelle Tuffs, 830 Fourth Ave. South, Seattle, 98134. DR#15-00544676.

Contracts, Bids, Proposals

ALABAMA Southern Natural Gas Co. has started carrying out the North Main-Line Relocation Project, in Jefferson County. The job involves relocating 3.5 miles of its existing 22-in.-dia north main line and 24-in.-dia north main loop line and less than a mile of its 20-in.-dia Calera line, protecting the lines from subsidence resulting from longwall coal-mining operations, planned to begin underneath the pipelines’ current locations in September 2016. The project is valued at $42.3 million. Southern Natural Gas Co., 1900 Fifth Ave., Birmingham, 35203. DR#16-00404710.

KENTUCKY Korte Construction of Missouri has started building a uranium-processing-facility support building at the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge. The complex is a U.S. Dept. of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration facility. The project entails constructing a 64,800-sq-ft building, including insulated concrete forms for exterior-wall construction  and a ground-source heat-pump HVAC system. The project’s value has been estimated at $19.4 million. Korte Construction of Missouri, 5700 Oakland Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63110. DR#15-00686537.

Bid, Proposal Dates

KANSAS 4/5 McCown Gordon Construction, the construction manager, is seeking subcontractor and material-supply bids to carry out construction of Olathe West High School, located in Olathe. Hollis & Miller Group designed the three-story, 375,000-sq-ft building. The project’s value has been estimated at $77 million. McCown Gordon Construction, Attn: Travis Downing, 422 Admiral Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64106. DR#13-00637666.

TEXAS 4/15 The University of North Texas currently is requesting qualifications from construction management-at-risk companies interested in managing construction of the school’s College of Visual Arts building, in Denton. The multi-story, 140,000-sq-ft building will be located at 1112 Dallas Dr. HKS Inc. is the designer. The project’s value has been estimated at between $50 million and $60 million. University of North Texas, Attn: Elaine Robbins, Project Manager, 1112 Dallas Dr., Denton, 76205. DR#13-00548014.