Texas & Louisiana On the Scene: December 2022
Photo courtesy Fluor Corp.
On Nov. 30, Fluor Corp. announced that its joint venture with Balfour Beatty Infrastructure had completed construction of the $666-million, 10-mile-long Interstate 35-E and U.S. 67 Southern Gateway project in Dallas with all highway lanes officially dedicated and open to traffic. The Fluor-led joint venture was selected in 2017 by the Texas Dept. of Transportation as the design-build and capital maintenance team for the reconstruction and improvement project located along Interstate 35E and U.S. 67 in Dallas. “This is one of the many vital infrastructure projects to improve the I-35E corridor in Dallas in response to business and population expansion in one of the country’s most dynamic regions,” stated Thomas Nilsson, president of Fluor’s infrastructure business.
Leon Blondin, Balfour Beatty U.S. chief executive officer, congratulated “the Balfour Beatty project team and joint venture partners in providing a long-term, transformative highway solution for one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation.”
Photo courtesy Fluor Corp.
Just two weeks prior, in mid-November, Fluor was celebrating another major milestone for a different Texas DOT contract, this time the groundbreaking of the Interstate 35 Capital Express South project. The project—awarded to Fluor in 2022’s second quarter—will add two non-tolled high-occupancy vehicle managed lanes in each direction along I-35 from SH 71/Ben White Boulevard to SH 45 Southeast. The project also will include the reconstruction of bridges and the addition of pedestrian and bicycle paths. This section of I-35 carries an average of 150,000 vehicles per day
Of the project’s official start, Fluor’s Nilsson noted, “It is always gratifying to break ground on a new project that will provide relief from traffic congestion and improve mobility and safety.”
Fluor and TXDOT anticipate substantial completion in early 2028.
Photo courtesy Satterfield & Pontikes
Officials with contractor Satterfield & Pontikes and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund celebrated the early December groundbreaking of the Intrepid Spirit Center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. The health care facility will provide comprehensive care to active-duty U.S. military personnel diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders. “It is an incredible honor for S&P to be part of such an important endeavor to bring advanced treatment for the invisible wounds of war to West Texas,” said Jeff Brooks, S&P vice president. The project, designed by SmithGroup, is expected to complete by fall 2023.
Photo courtesy Arcadis
In early November, Arcadis announced the ahead-of-schedule completion of the initial phase of its design-build project for Wallbox’s first electric vehicle charger manufacturing facility in the U.S. , with production commencing almost immediately. The facility is expected to manufacture more than 250,000 EV chargers by the end of 2022. The 78,000-sq-ft first phase includes office space, warehouses and a production area. The remainder of the 130,000-sq-ft plant is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2023.
Photo courtesy Arcadis
“I am extremely proud of our team’s ability to execute speed-to-market and do it with sustainability deeply embedded in the design-build, working closely with our client’s engineering/architectural partners, TB Ingenieros and Francesc Xairó i Associats,” said Ketan Maroo, vice president of places at Arcadis.
