The firm will provide quality assurance on “30 Crossing,” the widening and improvement project for I-30 through downtown Little Rock.
On October 9, the Arkansas State Highway Commission approved the selection of Kiewit-Massman as design-builders for “30 Crossing,” the expansion of the 6.7-mile stretch of I-30 that runs north-south over the Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock. The team includes Burns & McDonnell Engineering as lead designer and Volkert, Inc. as the lead quality assurance firm.
30 Crossing has been in development for six years, as the largest and one of the most complex undertakings proposed in the department’s $1.8 billion Connecting Arkansas Program. Located in a heavily developed urban area, 30 Crossing comprises an interstate corridor and a bridge built 60 years ago that now carries 125,000 vehicles through the capital city every day.
Over the next six months, the design-build team will work with ARDOT to refine and optimize the project scope so that it can be built within the current budget. 30 Crossing is estimated to be complete at the end of 2023.
“This is a great win, not just for the teams involved, but for the state of Arkansas,” says David Webber, Volkert’s national design and alternative delivery practice lead. “Not only is 30 Crossing the largest construction project ARDOT has ever issued, but it’s the first time they have used design-build, which is becoming standard practice across the country for large projects of this nature.
“Using this alternative delivery method will allow the entire team to work together in an integrated fashion,” Dun continues. “It offers the potential to compress the schedule and save cost over traditional contracting methods. We’re honored to play a part in helping this major design-build project succeed.”
More information about this project is available at 30crossing.com.
Featured photo courtesy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/JOHN SYKES JR.