Selection was made by based on criteria including experience and technical approach to carry out the project; their relevant experience and qualifications of key personnel; their investment and financial experience; and their overall understanding of the project and their approach to deliver all project requirements.
The teams invited to submit proposals, including their team leads and equity (financial) members, are Bridging Pennsylvania Partners, comprising Macquarie Infrastructure Developments LLC; Shikun & Binui Concessions USA Inc; STV Incorporated; FCC Construccion, S.A.; Shikun & Binui – America, Inc; and SAI Consulting Engineers, Inc;
Keystone Pathway Developers, comprising Kiewit (Development Company, Engineering Group Inc., and Infrastructure Co., dba Keystone Pathway Constructors); Star America PA Bridges, LLC; and Urban Engineers Inc.; and
Keystone Pathways Mobility Partners, comprising Cintra Infrastructures SE, Itinera Infrastructure and Concessions Inc.; Halmar International LLC and North Tarrant Infrastructure, LLC (unincorporated joint venture); Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; and KS Engineers, P.C.
Lehigh River Bridge was built in 1965 (PennDOT)
PennDOT will issue a Request for Proposals before the end of the year and proposals from the competing teams will be due in early 2022, with proposer selection anticipated in the spring. The shortlisted firms will submit a proposal with their detailed approach to deliver the programme.
All construction work is mandated to be performed by contractors prequalified for work in Pennsylvania. Additionally, at least 65% of the construction work will be subcontracted to other firms that are prequalified for work in the state. As an example of past Pennsylvania participation in P3 projects, the department's Rapid Bridge Replacement programme to replace 558 bridges included a private partner and more than 50 Pennsylvania-based designers and contractors as primary and subcontracted partners.
"Combined with potential federal and state action on transportation investments, this initiative will ensure critical projects are completed while also freeing resources for other projects," PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. "Based on our state's past P3 projects we expect significant opportunities for Pennsylvania companies to work on this initiative and the other projects it makes possible."
The private development entity ultimately chosen for the P3 will enter into a pre-development agreement to work with PennDOT to finalise the design and packaging of the final bridges to be built, financed, and maintained. Each package will include select bridges and associated infrastructure, including tolling infrastructure, gantry structures and toll buildings for each bridge which is advanced in the programme. The department continues to evaluate and conduct public involvement and environmental reviews on the candidate bridges announced for consideration in February of this year.
Eight bridges were listed as candidates for full replcamenet and one for improvement. The bridges earmarked for replacement are I-78 L Lenhartsvill Bridge, I-79 Bridgeville Interchange, I-80 Canoe Creek Bridge, I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges, I-80 North Fork Bridge, I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge, I-81 Susquehanna, and I83 South Bridge. Meanwhile, the I-95 Girard Point Bridge is a candidate for improvement.
The Susquehanna River twin crossings (PennDOT)
The Major Bridge P3 Initiative was approved by the state's P3 Board on 12 November 2020, and since then PennDOT has hosted three industry forums to educate potential, private-sector stakeholders on the scope and requirements. This is in addition to public outreach being conducted for the PennDOT Pathways transportation funding initiative, National Environmental Policy Act requirements for each candidate bridge, and varied legislative and stakeholder engagement.
