FDOT Breathes New Hope into $1-Billion Miami Tunnel

The Florida Dept. of Transportation breathed life into its plans for a $1-billion Port of Miami Tunnel, agreeing after days of intense negotiations with local officials and the South Florida legislative delegation to attempt to reach an agreement with its original concessionaire Miami Access Tunnel, even though MAT’s equity partner Babcock & Brown of Australia bailed out of the deal late last year.

FDOT Secretary Stephanie C. Kopelousos stated in a letter to Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez that the agency would make its technical team available to participate in a working group with county staff, who hope to use the exisiting procurement, even though FDOT believes reprocuring would save time and avoid risks associated with continuing on the current path with MAT.

“I am hopeful this proves to be a successful path torward delivery and not additional lost time that could have been used to reprocure the project,” Kopelousos says in the letter, adding that she still considers the tunnel project important.

State and local officials agreed that commercial closure with MAT must occur by June 1, and financial closure by October 1. If either date is missed, the state will expedite reprocurement.

The state selected MAT, led by Bouygues Publics Travaux of France, in February 2008 to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the tunnel, which would reroute trucks out of downtown Miami, providing direct access to the port from the MacArthur Causeway.

FDOT has committed to pick up half of the capital costs, $457.5 million, and $200 million for operation and maintenance. The county and city have also contributed funds.

The state would pay MAT as certain construction milestones are met, and annual maximum availability payments of $33.2 million would start when traffic begins to flow on the two 3,900-lin.-ft., 36-ft.-diameter, two-lane bored tunnels. At the end of 35 years, the tunnel becomes the property of the state.

By Debra Wood

Odebrecht-OHL Joint Venture Breaks Ground on Metrorail Airport Connection

A joint venture between Odebrecht of Coral Gables, Fla., and OHL of Hialeah, Fla., broke ground in late April on a $360 million rail-line project that will link the Miami Intermodal Center, under construction next to Miami International Airport, with the city’s Metrorail transit system. The 2.4-mi line, slated for completion in 2012, will be built between the MIC and the existing Earlington Heights Station, facilitating public transportation to and from the airport.

The Odebrecht-OHL Joint Venture will build the Metrorail extension guideway to the MIC. The MIC will serve as a central transportation hub for the airport complex, including a consolidated rental car center, a bus depot and access to Metrorail, Tri-Rail and Amtrak rail lines.

According to Odebrecht-OHL, the joint venture has committed more than $43 million to hiring small- and medium-sized subcontractors and consultants, with about 12% of the work being carried out by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

Florida’s March Contracts: 33% Decline

McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Southeast Construction, reported that the value of new Florida contracts signed in March declined by 33% overall, compared to the same period of a year ago. According to the latest report, the value of March contracts for future construction totaled approximately $2 billion, compared to the preceding March’s $3 billion total.

For the most recent month, all three sectors used by McGraw-Hill Construction declined. Residential continued to fall the most, this time by 49% compared to last March for a $552-million total. The nonbuilding sector fell 29%, for a $594.7-million tally for the month. Nonresidential declined by 22% for a $836.1-million total.

For the year-to-date, Florida contracts are down 37% overall compared to the same period of a year ago. The residential sector is 58% behind 2008’s pace, with about $1.5 billion in new projects through the first three months of the year. (That makes residential the smallest construction sector in Florida so far this year.) Nonresidential is 40% behind ’08 so far, with about $2.1 billion in new contracts. The nonbuilding sector—which includes infrastructure and civil projects—is 7% ahead for the year, with nearly $2.2 billion in new projects.

Tyndall Air Force Base Building PBS&J-Designed Platinum-rated Fitness Center

PBS&J’s design of an energy-efficient fitness center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida was recently recognized by the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment with a Merit Award for Concept Design. The USAF Design Awards Program recognizes and promotes Air Force projects that “achieve a goal of design excellence as it relates to the natural and built environment.”

Featuring alternative sources of energy and “green-build” design principles, the fitness center is designed to achieve a LEED Platinum rating.

The two-story, 75,278-sq-ft “Fit to Fight” Center will feature a gymnasium with two basketball courts; three racquetball courts; men’s and women’s locker rooms; an 11,000-sq-ft cardio/weight room with a separate parent/child workout area; a two-story lobby; upper-level group exercise rooms; and other items. The center will also include a separate 3,942-sq-ft Health and Wellness Center.

In addition to taking advantage of recovered energy, the design’s “green” elements include alternative energy sources, high-efficiency cooling and heating systems, recycled materials from construction demolitions, integration of a solar power system on the roof, permeable paving and high-efficiency lighting and controls.

Ground breaking for the $18.6-million project took place in December. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2010.

Carlisle Development Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing Complex in Marathon

Carlisle Development Group held a groundbreaking recently for its Sea Grape Apartments development in Marathon, in the Florida Keys. The rental apartment complex will feature 84 units. The owner reported financing of $23.3 million for the project.

“Sea Grape Apartments provides a truly affordable opportunity for working families to continue enjoy the beauty of living in the Keys, ” said Ken Naylor, senior developer for Carlisle. “Between 2000 and 2007, median rental rates in Monroe County increased by 46%, and as a result during that period the Keys lost 8% of its family households. Sea Grape is an important step toward correcting that imbalance.”

The complex will consist of 10 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units, 48 two-bedroom/two-bathroom units and 26 three-bedroom/two-bathroom units. Monthly rental rates start at just $250 for the one-bedrooms, $819 for the two-bedrooms and $950 for the three-bedrooms. Tenant applicants must meet specific affordable housing income guidelines.

Units will be set aside at 30%, 45% and 60% of the area median income.

Construction is expected to be completed in December.

Elkins to Renovate Buddy Taylor Middle School in Flagler Co.

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Elkins Constructors was awarded a $5.5-million contract to perform renovations at Buddy Taylor Middle School in Flagler County.

The project includes a complete interior renovation and conversion of the old cafeteria to classrooms, a music room and a band room. Existing classrooms and the main office area will also be renovated. A pitch roof will be installed and a stucco finish will be added to the exterior. The project also includes the addition of a new sprinkler system and chiller.

The project architect is Clemons, Rutherford & Associates and is scheduled for completion in December.

Hennessy Construction Design-Building $30-Million Pinellas Co. Facility

St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Hennessy Construction is proceeding with a $30.3-million design-build contract for the Pinellas County Public Works Emergency Responders Building in Clearwater. The project includes the construction of a 82,637-sq-ft facility designed to withstand a category 5 hurricane. The multi-story building will house equipment for the county's intelligent transportation system and be home to the emergency operations center and Pinellas County Public Works operations. The facility is designed to be self-sufficient for up to seven days with generated power, water, sewage storage capacity, kitchen facility and sleeping quarters for the first responders operations.

The contract also includes construction of a 10,864-sq-ft pre-engineered building to house emergency first responder's vehicles.

The ERB structure will be built from structural steel, reinforced concrete and concrete tilt-up wall panels. The buildings are scheduled to be LEED certified. Mason Blau & Associates of Clearwater is the project architect.

The contractor also announced it is building a $4.2-million Christ The King Lutheran Church New Christian Ministry Center in Largo. Wannemacher Jensen Architects of St. Petersburg designed the 15,000-sq-ft multipurpose center.

Hennessy is also renovating and building an addition to the Phillies Florida Carpenter Field Clubhouse. The $3.2-million project in Clearwater includes 10,000 sq ft of renovations and the addition of a 6,000-sq-ft second floor to the existing clubhouse. Wannemacher Jensen Architects is the designer of this project.

Ajax Building to Construct $7-Million Parking Garage at FGCU

Ajax Building Corp. of Fort Myers was awarded a $7-million contract for Florida Gulf Coast University’s new parking garage, a 785-space four-level structure made of 1,000 pre-cast concrete panels and pieces that will be assembled on a seven-acre parcel on the Fort Myers campus.

This is the third garage Ajax has built for Florida Gulf Coast University Financing Corporation, and the second in which the company has served in a design-build capacity.

Pertree Adding Classrooms for Windermere Preparatory School

Pertree Constructors of Orlando is constructing two new classroom buildings for Windermere Preparatory School in Windermere. Construction of buildings A-1 and A-2, valued at more than $3 million, will add more than 20,000 sq ft to the campus of the private K-12 school.

The new space will include administrative office, chemistry labs, media center, classrooms, an art room, a band room and a choir/dance studio. Pertree will also manage construction of athletic enhancements that include a new softball diamond and a new soccer field.

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