ODOT set to begin largest single construction project and first ever P3 in Ohio

Columbus, Ohio — The Portsmouth Gateway Group is likely to build the largest single construction project the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has ever embarked upon. That is, as long as everything in the team’s formal proposal checks out after a thorough review by ODOT over the coming weeks.

The Portsmouth Gateway Group says it will cost about $429 million to construct the entire Portsmouth Bypass, which is a 16-mile, four-lane limited access highway from U.S. 23 north of Lucasville to U.S. 52 near Sciotoville. The new roadway will complete the missing link of the Appalachian Development Highway System in Ohio.

Not only is this the largest project in ODOT history, but it is the first-ever Public-Private Partnership (P3). Since 2012, ODOT engineers and technical experts have been working to develop a P3 to construct the new road. By using a P3, ODOT is able to accelerate the entire project by decades, and the department can avoid rising costs by taking advantage of current competitive economic conditions.

Three teams were chosen in September 2013 to submit technical and financial proposals for this milestone project. ODOT opened the sealed financial proposals from each team late last week.

The Portsmouth Gateway Group includes the following team members:

• Dragados, USA, Inc.
• The Beaver Excavating Company
• John R. Jurgensen, Co., Inc.
• ms Consultants, Inc.
• ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc.
• Infrared Capital Partners Limited
• Star America Fund GP

ODOT will take additional steps in the coming weeks to evaluate the financial proposal and ensure the bid is complete.

Making ODOT history, the Portsmouth Bypass will be the department’s largest, modern earthwork project to date. With the real estate already acquired, clearing and demolition projects are under way, and construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2015.