The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority has selected two joint ventures — each featuring Flatiron — for major projects to transform railways in the state, the organization announced last week.
Long Bridge
A Skanska/Flatiron JV won the North Package of the Long Bridge project, which spans the Potomac River to connect Arlington, Virginia, with Washington, D.C.
Combined with the South Package, the cost of the project is budgeted at $2.3 billion. A VPRA spokesperson told Construction Dive the agency has yet to determine a dollar breakdown between the two packages.
Long Bridge’s North Package is nearly a third of the way through the design process. Sweden-based Skanska and Broomfield, Colorado-based Flatiron will tackle the project with a progressive design-build delivery method. Prep work is expected in 2024, with full construction work beginning in 2025 and completion in 2030.
The current Long Bridge is 119 years old and operates at 98% capacity at peak periods, according to VPRA.
The full Long Bridge Project includes two procurement packages to construct an updated, two-track railroad bridge, separating passenger and freight traffic and improving trip times, according to the VPRA. The North Package consists of bridges north of the Potomac, while the South Package will include the bridge over the Potomac and an adjacent bicycle-pedestrian bridge.
Work won by the Skanska/Flatiron JV will consist of several smaller bridges, including a new rail bridge over the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Portal and I-395, replacing three two-track bridges with four track bridges, and constructing a new pedestrian bridge.
The South Package remains in the procurement process. VPRA will release a short list of teams in February 2024.
Franconia-Springfield Bypass
At the same time, the VPRA announced it awarded the $405 million Franconia-Springfield Bypass project to a Flatiron/Herzog JV.
Under a construction-manager-at-risk arrangement, the JV will construct a nearly 1-mile-long passenger rail bridge south of the Franconia-Springfield Metro station in Springfield, Virginia. Site clearing and preparation work will begin by the close of March 2024, followed by a two-year project schedule.
Owned by VPRA, the span will carry passenger trains over two existing freight tracks to reach passenger stops on the other side. The rail authority said the project will improve service in the area, and enhance VPRA’s mission to create two separate rail corridors for passengers and freight.
