The joint venture (JV) team from infrastructure contractor and construction materials producer Granite Construction, Parsons and Corman Construction has secured a contract to design and develop the first phase of the Interstate 64 (I-64) Southside Widening and High Rise Bridge in Virginia, US.

Valued at $410m, the new design-build contract has been awarded by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Parsons is a technology-driven engineering services company that focuses on engineering, construction, technical and professional services industries, and Corman Construction is a family owned and operated heavy civil construction firm.

Granite Construction has booked its 50% stake in the JV project into backlog during the third quarter of this year.

Under the deal, the project team will be responsible for widening approximately eight miles of I-64 in Chesapeake, transforming the existing four lanes to six lanes.

“Valued at $410m, the new design-build contract has been awarded by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).”

The additional lanes will provide motorists with an extra managed lane in each direction.

Additionally, the scope of the project includes extensive environmental protections to the adjacent wetland and the Elizabeth River, new fender systems, navigation enhancements, as well as the reconstruction and widening of four bridges.

The Interstate widening and bridge project has been designed to enhance capacity and mobility in the region, in addition to improving traffic safety by reducing congestion while minimising the impact to the travellers during the construction period.

Construction work on the project is slated to commence this month and is expected to be completed in July 2021.

In July this year, Granite Construction, together with its JV partner Archer Western, received a $441m design-build contract for the development of Phase I of South Capitol Street Corridor project from the US District of Columbia Department of Transportation.