Florida’s Highway Wish List Totals Nearly $7 Billion

From the Panhandle to the Florida Keys, Floridians could see highway projects expedited and construction workers on the job if the stimulus package becomes a reality.

The Florida Department of Transportation has nearly $7 billion worth of projects that could start within 90 to 120 days, GOP Gov. Charlie Crist told President-elect Barack Obama in a letter dated December 2, 2008.

“This infusion of federal support could provide $39 billion in economic benefits and create an additional 195,000 jobs,” Crist wrote.

Bob Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association in Tallahassee, says, “I think the proposed stimulus package for infrastructure will get the economy going more than anything else. We have a lot of work ready to go.

All of the projects are on the FDOT’s work plan but need funding to advance. More than a third of the work is in Central Florida. The state would use $2.7 billion to widen Interstate 4 from State Road 435, near the attractions area to the Seminole County line. The state has broken the project into four design-build contacts, at $1.4 billion, $518 million, $554 million and $193 million.

The list is full of new roads, such as a 79.6 million job in Polk County, an $86 million one in Lee County and a $125 million project in Duval County.

More than $336 million would go toward replacing and widening the Choctawhatchee Bay bridge in Walton County and $118 million to a new Indian Street Bridge in Martin County. About $227 million would fund additional lanes on Interstate 275 in Hillsborough County.

The money also would fund high-occupancy vehicle lanes along Interstate 95 in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, $150 million and $62 million, respectively. Also in Miami, the state is looking for $577 million in funding to reconstruct the State Road 826/State Road 836 interchange.

Securing the work may require contractors and designers to quickly team up to bid on design-build projects. But Burleson does not expect that will be a problem, since many contractors and design firms have established relationships.

“Everybody is anxious and ready to go,” Burleson says. “We need it quick.”

“We are greatly encouraged by indications that president-elect Obama’s economic stimulus plan is focused on infrastructure investments since these have a clear multiplier effect on the economy,” said Gilberto Neves, CEO of Odebrecht Construction in Coral Gables.

Florida Contracts Fall 49% in November

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts declined by 49% overall in November, compared to the same period of a year ago. According to the latest report, the value of November contracts for future construction totaled approximately $1.4 billion, compared to last November’s $2.8 billion total.

For the most recent month, all three sectors used by McGraw-Hill Construction experienced double-digit percentage declines. Residential fell 51% compared to last November to total $575.8 million. The nonresidential sector fell 57% to total $517.1 million, compared to last year’s $1.2 billion tally. The nonbuilding sector declined by 21% to total $352.8 million.

For the year to date, the total value of new contracts is an estimated $28.9 billion, or 38% behind the 2007 pace. Residential is 46% behind 2007, and is valued at about $11.4 billion. Nonresidential is 25% behind ‘07, with approximately $12.1 billion in new starts. The nonbuilding sector is 42% behind last year, with about $5.4 billion in new projects.

Hardin Set to Complete Westin Tampa Bay Three Months Early

Hardin Construction Co. announced it will complete its Westin Tampa Bay Airport Hotel project for owner Impact Properties approximately three months ahead of schedule.

Located at the Rocky Point waterfront overlooking Tampa Bay, the new Westin is a 16-story, 255-room hotel with a five-level parking facility.

Construction completion was originally scheduled for March 2009, with the hotel’s grand opening set for April, but it will be open in January, in time for the Super Bowl.

The hotel will feature a restaurant and a rooftop bar, along with a Starbucks.

MWH to Upgrade Tallahassee’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities

MWH of Broomfield, Colo., has signed two contracts totaling $220 million to provide construction management-at-risk services to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities for the City of Tallahassee. The two facilities are the Thomas P. Smith Wastewater Reclamation Facility and the Lake Bradford Road Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Construction on both projects was set to begin in February 2009.

Vanderbilt Bay to Expand, Renovate Naples Airport

Vanderbilt Bay Construction of Naples was selected as general contractor by the City of Naples Airport Authority to expand and renovate the existing general aviation terminal at Naples Airport.

The two-story 8,000 sq-ft expansion of the existing 11,700 sq-ft facility will add parking, equipment storage, administrative offices and pilot offices, as well as renovate and expand the passenger arrival/departure area.

BRPH Designing $17M Elementary School for Orange County

BRPH of Orlando was awarded the design contract for East Wetherbee Elementary School in Orlando, by Orange County Public Schools. The $17 million facility will accommodate 830 students and serve as a relief school for Endeavor and Southwood elementary schools.

The firm was chosen to repurpose a functional and compact two-story prototype design already in use for the new Conway Elementary School. The school is scheduled to open in August 2010.

Construct Two Group to build Martin H. Levin Center at UF

Construct Two Group of Orlando will build the $4.7 million Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center at the Levin College of Law, at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The first phase includes construction of the 10,000-sq-ft first floor of a planned two-story building. A functional trial and appellate courtroom with gallery, judge’s bench, jury box, attorney’s tables, judge’s chamber, jury deliberation room and support spaces are included in this phase. The project team is seeking Silver LEED certification. Construction completion is scheduled for May.

FleishmanGarcia Architecture of Tampa is the architect. Facility engineering is being provided by Volkert & Associates of Gainesville.

Flagler Development Holds Groundbreaking for Downtown Doral Condo

Flagler Development held a groundbreaking event for Cordoba, the first residential building to be developed within a 120-acre mixed-use community in the City of Doral.

The four-story, 224-unit Cordoba, features residences from 700 to 1,300 sq ft. Flagler indicates the Cordoba is scheduled for occupancy in summer 2010. Amenities include two courtyards, private swimming pool and clubhouse. Cordoba units are priced from the mid $200s.

The emerging 120-acre Downtown Doral community will include 2,840 residential units, and more than 1 million sq ft of commercial space, including 180,000 sq ft of retail, 400,000 sq ft of class A office space and 100,000 sq ft of civic space.

Suffolk to Build $6.4 Million Aventura Arts Center

Suffolk Construction Co. of West Palm Beach was selected by the City of Aventura to build its $6.4 million Aventura Arts and Cultural Center.

The 14,000 sq-ft, 300-seat facility will host a variety of performing arts and cultural programs. It will include a lobby, stage, dressing rooms and backstage area with storage and loading dock.

The Aventura Arts and Cultural Center was designed by architectural firm PGAL. Construction is expected to be completed by January 2010.

Coastal Construction Hired for $45M Worthing Place

Miami-based Coastal Construction Group has been awarded a $45 million contract for the construction of Worthing Place, a 217-unit apartment community in downtown Delray Beach.

Developer Southcoast Partners selected Coastal’s Palm Beach office, Coastal Construction of Palm Beach, to build the six-story structure. Coastal will also construct a seven-level parking garage adjacent to the community.

Worthing Place will feature orchid gardens, sitting pools, fountains, interior courtyards, restaurants and local retail shops. The project was designed by Cohen, Freedman & Encinosa Architects and is scheduled for completion in mid-2010.

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