Infrastructure company United Bridge Partners has awarded a construction manager / general contractor (CM/GC) contract to joint venture (JV) team Granite and Kraemer North America for the Bay City Bridges Project in Bay City, Michigan, US.

As part of the $125m contract, the JV team will be responsible for completing the reconstruction and alignment of the Independence Bridge and performing rehabilitation work on the existing Liberty Bridge.

Granite regional vice-president Ryan Clark said: “This project supports our geographic expansion and strategic focus on alternate delivery models.

“It also provides growth opportunities for our team members, expands our capabilities in moveable bridge construction and rehabilitation, and reinforces our strong partnership with United Bridge Partners and their mission to repair our national infrastructure by providing privately-funded bridge solutions to public agencies.”

With the design and preconstruction services already in progress, construction work is expected to finish by the end of 2023.

Both bridges will be operational throughout the project duration.

The CM/GC procurement will see the involvement of the contractor during the design and planning phases. It is said to pose a lower risk for the contractor and owner while raising the overall value to project stakeholders.

The CM/GC process has been devised to not only promote collaboration but also to solicit the contractor’s value-added feedback.

Last October, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) appointed Granite Construction as the CM/GC for the $257m State Route 99 rehabilitation project in the US.

The rehabilitation project will cover a road stretch from El Dorado Street to Clinton Avenue in Fresno, California.