The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) in the US has awarded Gateway Interchange Constructors (GIC) with a contract to complete the design-build second phase of the Johnson County Gateway: I-435/I-35/K-10 Interchange project.

In 2010 this $288m project was identified as the state’s first major Design-Build Project as part the T-WORKS Transportation Program to speed up the delivery of these improvements.

KDOT project director Burt Morey said: "KDOT received three quality proposals making the evaluation and selection process exciting and challenging.

"GIC exceeded our expectations with the improvements they are able to build and the time it will take them to do it."

"GIC exceeded our expectations with the improvements they are able to build and the time it will take them to do it.

"Their approach will allow us to improve many of the existing issues drivers see today."

The total budget of the Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 includes a $3m schedule incentive to speed up the construction by seven months. GIC has accepted this, with the completion of the work expected by 31 December 2016.

The project’s budget includes T-WORKS construction funding, additional funding from the cities of Lenexa and Olathe, along with funding for design and engineering works.

Construction on the project is expected to begin in the first half of this year.

GIC is a joint venture between Clarkson Construction Company and Kiewit Infrastructure Co.

The two companies previously worked together to successfully complete the kcICON design-build project, Missouri Department of Transportation’s first design-build project in the Kansas City metro area.