Granite Awarded $147.8M U.S. 1 Project in Key Largo

The Florida Department of Transportation has awarded Granite Construction Co. a $147.8 million design-build contract to reconstruct approximately 4.5 mi. of U.S. Highway 1 at the north end of the Florida Keys.

The project includes construction of a new 7,500-ft.-high level bridge, reconstruction of U.S. 1 and installation of barrier wall between the north- and southbound traffic. Additionally, the northbound shoulder of the new two-lane roadway will be constructed to accommodate traffic in the event of a hurricane evacuation and eight box culverts will be installed to serve as crocodile crossings under U.S. 1. Work will also include the construction of retaining walls, all associated drainage, fencing, signing, roadway striping and removal of the existing bridges.

According to the company, construction will begin in the first quarter of 2005. The project is estimated for completion in early 2009.

DOE Selects OUC, Southern Co. to Build Clean Coal Technology Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy recently selected the Orlando Utilities Commission and Southern Company to build a $557 million, advanced coal-gasification facility in Central Florida as part of the department's Clean Coal Power Initiative.

The 285-megawatt plant will be built at OUC's Stanton Energy Center near Orlando and will gasify coal using state-of-the-art emissions controls. The DOE will contribute $235 million and OUC and Southern Company will contribute $322 million.

The expected date for commercial operation is early 2010 and groundbreaking sometime in 2007. OUC and Southern Company will co-own the project.

The project was one of two selected to demonstrate advanced power generation systems using integrated gasification combined-cycle technology, a variation on a natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant.

Florida Contract Activity Declines Again

The overall value of contracts for future construction in Florida dipped again in October, McGraw-Hill Construction reported. The most recent monthly figures for Florida activity tallied 1 percent below last October's, with approximately $4.1 billion in new contracts reported.

In October, the value of residential contracts increased by only 1 percent compared to October 2003, to total almost $3.07 billion, up only slightly from last year's $3.05 billion. After increasing in September, nonresidential starts declined by 12 percent in October, to total roughly $586.1 million, compared to last year's $668.8 million. Conversely, the nonbuilding category rebounded from a 63 percent downturn in September to increase by 2 percent in October. The most recent month's figure of $459.9 million was slightly ahead of October 2003's pace of $450.6 million.

Even so, for the first ten months of 2004, overall activity in Florida has increased by 14 percent, from the $41.7 billion reported in this period in 2003 to 2004's $47.6 billion total. To date, though, residential still remains the only positive sector, up 23 percent so far in 2004, with roughly $33.6 billion in activity reported. Nonresidential remains even with 2003, with an estimated $8.7 billion in contracts reported to date. The nonbuilding sector is now 8 percent behind 2003's pace, with a roughly $5.2 billion total.

Executive Director Goes Down With Tampa's Sinking Bridge

Florida's Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority board of directors has terminated its contract with Patrick J. McCue, who had been the authority's executive director since 1996. Under McCue's watch, the authority has grappled with problems related to sinking piers on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway project. The authority estimates repairs could cost $68.5 million if each of the project's 224 piers has to be fixed. Source: Engineering News-Record.

HNTB, MCM Picked for S.R. 836 Toll Project

The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority has selected the team of HNTB Corp. and MCM, both of Miami, for the State Road 836 Toll Plaza design-build project in Miami-Dade County.

The $52 million project involves the construction of 3.9 mi. of roadway along the mainline S.R. 836 and access ramps, including two mainline toll facilities. Construction is scheduled to be completed by July 2006.

Demolition Marks Start of Luxuria Project

Officials with Boca Ocean Development recently announced plans for the company's Luxuria residential tower, at 2500 S. Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton. The new development will be built on the site of the five-story, nearly 40-year-old Villa Del Mar condominium, which was recently demolished.

The 10-story Luxuria condominium will feature residences from 4,300 sq. to 21,000 sq. ft. in size, and ranging from $4.3 million to $21 million.

Vander Ploeg & Associates Architects/Planners of Boca Raton designed the Luxuria's exterior. Interior floor plans were created by Robert M. Swedroe Architects/Planners of Miami Beach.

Shakman Receives $69M Condo/Hotel Renovation Contract

The Falor Companies, a hospitality firm with offices in Miami and Chicago, has hired Shakman Construction of Boca Raton to renovate and upgrade recently acquired hotel properties in South Florida and Chicago into luxury condo-hotels.

The contract, totaling $69 million, includes renovations and upgrades to Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada, the Mayfair House Hotel in Coconut Grove, the Breakwater and Edison hotels in Miami Beach, the Tides on South Beach, as well as two facilities in Chicago.

Steel Firm Builds New $30M Fabrication Facility in Lake City

New Millennium Building Systems, a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics of Fort Wayne, Ind., is heading toward completion of its new $30-million steel fabrication facility in Lake City.

Construction of the 250,000 sq.-ft. plant was scheduled for completion by early 2005. The facility will provide building components for non-residential construction projects in Florida and surrounding states.

Brasfield & Gorrie Renovating Blake Medical Center

General contractor Brasfield & Gorrie recently began approximately $14 million worth of renovation/expansion work at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. The HCA-owned project consists of a new single-story surgery addition, central plant expansion and renovation throughout the existing building. The addition will consist of eight new surgery suites, education facilities and other amenities.

The project also includes expansion of the existing pharmacy and central plant as well as renovation of the same-day surgery. The project features 45,000 sq. ft. of new construction and 30,000 sq. ft. of renovated space. Work is scheduled for completion in March 2006. Perkins & Will of Atlanta is the project architect.

SWFIA Awards $12 Million Contract to ACI

The Lee County Port Authority has awarded a nearly $12 million contract to Aviation Constructors Inc. of Tampa for Transportation Security Administration and airline space buildout inside the new terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. ACI will build airline ticket offices and baggage and operations space, modify airline ticket counters and relocate selected TSA spaces.

This is the 11th of 12 bid packages related to the Midfield Terminal Complex, which is being built south of the airport's runway. DMJM Aviation is managing the design and construction of the $438 million project.

Weitz to Build Berkshire Elementary

The School District of Palm Beach County recently selected The Weitz Co. of West Palm Beach to provide construction management-at-risk services for Berkshire Elementary School in West Palm Beach.

Scheduled for completion in fall 2006, the 138,000-sq.-ft. campus will feature three classroom buildings, an administration and library building, art and music building and cafeteria, as well as ballfields and playground areas.

Stiles Developing New Broward Shopping Center

Stiles Corp. of Fort Lauderdale recently began construction of Lakeside Town Shops, a 275,000-sq.-ft. retail community shopping center in Davie. Various Stiles divisions are providing design, development, construction and leasing for the center, which will be anchored by a 185,000-sq.-ft. Target Superstore.

The shopping center also will include 68,875 sq. ft. of in-line retail space. Completion is set for this fall.

Developers Break Ground on Landmark at the Gardens

Officials with HomeDevco Development Corp. recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for The Landmark at the Gardens condominium project in downtown Palm Beach Gardens. The Landmark will feature 166 residences ranging from 1,870 to more than 5,000 sq. ft.

The project is located next to Menin Development's Downtown at the Gardens, a 350,000-sq.-ft. retail complex already under construction.

DeBartolo Developing Shopping Center in Hillsborough County

DeBartolo Development announced plans to develop 34 acres in Riverview, Hillsborough County, as its Riverview Bell Plaza project. Scheduled for completion in late 2005, the project will feature approximately 250,000 sq. ft. of commercial/retail development, including a proposed 119,000-sq.-ft. anchor store.
Parsons Brinckerhoff to Design North Ridge Parkway

The Florida Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff to design the new North Ridge Parkway road project in northern Polk County.

The project involves the preparation of final design plans for a new 5.2-mi. arterial roadway approximately 15 mi. west of Kissimmee. The roadway will consist of a new four-lane urban and suburban section, three new intersections with major arterial roads, a bridge crossing and wetlands mitigation and floodplain compensation for more than 40 acres.

Construction is slated to begin in December 2006.