New Procurement Process Speeds Up Construction
More Than 330 Jobs Created by $26 Million Contract
Albany, NY (August 10, 2012)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Department of Transportation has awarded a $24.2 million contract through the NY Works program for critical repairs to six bridges on Long Island. The contract was awarded under the innovative design-build method, and the project is estimated to create 330 jobs.
Design-build is a centerpiece of the NY Works program, providing a cost effective way to move construction projects quickly by allowing design and construction teams to innovate and develop best methods to improve New York's bridges and highways. The Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) awarded the $24.2 million contract to construction contractor Posillico Civil Inc. of Farmingdale, Nassau County and design consultant Greenman-Pederson, Inc of Babylon, Suffolk County.
"NY Works is quickly advancing critical improvements to New York State's transportation infrastructure, creating jobs now and making our highways and bridges safer for drivers," Governor Cuomo said. "These critical repairs to Long Island bridges highlight the kind of progress New York State is making through the NY Works program by accelerating capital, expediting projects, and putting shovels in the ground now."
NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said, "Design-build enables us to accelerate our work to rebuild New York's bridges, using funding from Governor Cuomo's innovative NY Works program. This contract will enable the Department to move quickly to enhance safety for motorists and maintain the integrity of Long Island's heavily traveled bridges."
Design-build contractors submit proposals to design and build the bridge at the same time. Once proposals are submitted, NYSDOT engineers determine the "best value" bid, which relies 60 percent on cost and 40 percent on a technical score. The technical score is determined based on past experience with the companies and schedule acceleration, among other factors.
To expedite job creation and critical infrastructure repair projects across the state, Governor Cuomo worked with the Legislature last year to put the design-build process in place. Design-build allows for the combining of design and construction services into single contracts to help expedite repair work to vital infrastructure and save taxpayer money.
The Long Island contract includes deck replacements on the following bridges:
- Route 24, Hempstead Turnpike over the Belmont Park access road in Hempstead, Nassau County. Work will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
- Pinelawn Road over Long Island Expressway in Huntington, Suffolk County. Work will begin in September and be completed early next summer.
- Ronkonkoma Avenue over Interstate 495 in Brookhaven, Suffolk County. Work will begin next spring and be completed by the end of 2013.
- Waverly Avenue over I-495 in Brookhaven, Suffolk County. Work will begin next June and be completed by the end of 2013.
- Great Neck Road over Route 27 in Babylon, Suffolk County. Work will begin this fall and be completed next summer.
- Robert Moses Causeway over Ocean Parkway in Islip, Suffolk County. Work will begin after Labor Day and be completed next spring.
NY Works focuses on improving bridges that are in fair condition and bringing them to good condition. This rehabilitation work will better preserve the state's infrastructure and guard against the need for more costly, in-depth construction. Bundling projects sites within close geographic locations into a single contract enables DOT to lower expenses and obtain lower bids.
Motorists may encounter flaggers directing traffic and should expect travel delays. It is imperative that motorists remember this season to drive carefully through the many highway and bridge construction zones they will encounter.
For real-time travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org. 511NY is New York State's official traffic and travel information source. The 511NY site and mobile app provides offers free, 24/7, statewide real-time traffic and transit information for all of New York State. It also offers a transit trip planner, camera views, as well as weather alerts and forecasts. New features available at the website include additional mobile app features, border crossing times, new notifications on the home page, and an interface that is easier to navigate.