IQ Summer 2011: The Federal Issue - (Page 18)

TRANSPORTATION//STATE OF THE SECTOR The widening of I-15 was the Nevada Department of Transportation’s first design-build project. Planning and Performance NEVADA’S I-15 NORTH CORRIDOR PROJECT SHOWS HOW ONE LEADS TO THE OTHER. By Todd Rich MUCH OF LIFE in Las Vegas is about taking calculated risks, and that’s exactly what the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) decided to do with a project to widen and expand the section of I-15 north of downtown. The Vegas project presented challenges to the design-builder and, as NDOT’s first design-build project, to the owner as well. The 5.8-mile section of I-15 was badly congested—barely maintaining traffic flow for more than 175,000 vehicles every day. N DOT needed to expand the road’s capacity. There was more work to be done than the seemingly short distance would suggest. In addition to widening the road and adding auxiliary lanes, the project included altering 14 bridges, installing lighting and signals, incorporating Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) design and building a storm water drainage system, all in less than three years. The work also required accommodating the heavy traffic on I-15 itself and the surrounding roads. NDOT also placed a high priority on quality (aesthetic as well as strictly functional) and safety. In the end, the project was finished seven and a half months before the target completion date and paved the way for future design-build projects in Nevada. SELECTING THE TEAM NDOT went through a three-step process to select the team: a Statement of Qualifications, a Request for Preliminary Proposals to establish a shortlist and a Request for Final Proposal from those on the shortlist to determine the winning team. The core specifications were developed from industry standards and performance-oriented requirements. NDOT wanted applicants to have the flexibility to suggest technical innovations that would not only meet their basic requirements, but make it possible to deliver a road that could exceed them. Final proposals were submitted in two parts, a quality paper containing the final design and construction proposal information and the price proposal. The combined scores for price and 18 summer//2011 the quarterly publication of the design-build institute of america Photos courtesy of Nevada Department of Transportation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IQ Summer 2011: The Federal Issue

IQ Summer 2011: The Federal Issue